LTE coming to Prescott

[haven]

If you look at the cell phone companies' high speed mobile data maps, there's a blank over Prescott, Arizona. It's too small a market to be a priority for upgraded service.

All that will change by the end of the year. Verizon Wireless is bringing LTE service to town. By the start of 2013, Verizon will offer LTE service in 420 markets across USA, Prescott among them.

Why care about Prescott? The town serves as the intercontinental headquarters for Overland International, the umbrella organization that includes Expedition Portal and Overland Journal. Prescott is home to a growing number of independent businesses in the adventure travel industry, many of whom participate here.

 

[Martyn]

Prescott is an interesting hub for innovative small businesses, as stated there are a number of Expedition related companies here, but there are also precision manufacturers, aerospace companies and multinationals here.

There are three colleges, Prescott College offering a strong adventure flavor, Yavapai College offering a huge variety of classes from certification for helicopter pilots to welding classes, and NAU Yavapai offering degrees in three years.

AT has found the craftsmanship, quality of workers, good supply chain, and the ability to be in the back country within minutes an amazing combination.

4G service just adds the cream to the top of the cake.

 

[Ryanmb21]

Verizon LTE is Superfast. I am loving it with my new iPhone5.

 

[nwoods]

I recently learned that Prescott finally moved up from AT&T "Edge" network to their approximation of 4G. That must be a welcome change indeed. When I visited last year during the Arizonia Traverse, it was like going back in time, and not in a good way! The data network was so slow! Talking to Mathew Scott about it last weekend, he had serious culture shock going from Chicago to Prescott, primarily due to the preolithic cellular services

Here is an "action" shot of the network from last fall:

 

[Martyn]

Having lived in smaller communities for over 30 years I'm used to the slower pace of life and cellular coverage. It's a small sacrifice to make to be able to enjoy the great outdoors on a daily basis. I don't think I'd give up Prescott for faster cell coverage in Chicago.

 

[haven]

Well, soon you'll have both!

 

[Martyn]

Well, soon you'll have both!

Well it looks like I will.

The challenge is not to become tethered to a device that gives you access, and others access to you, 24/7.

Seems as if too many of us spoil the experience of the back country by staying in contact with the "front country".