Verizon Boosts Washington D.C. Network 500 Percent For Inauguration

Verizon is enhancing its network just in time for the Presidential Inauguration for Donald Trump in Washington D.C., on January 20. The company announced that it will enhance its network’s voice and wireless data capacity by 500 percent in order to handle the anticipated one million attendees in the nation’s capital. Enhancements include Dulles International Airport, Union Station, and local hotels and convention centers.

“Verizon customers attending the Inauguration will have early access to these new technological advancements we are deploying widely throughout our network in 2017,” Nicola Palmer, Chief Network Officer for Verizon Wireless said in a statement. “Our customers have always had the leading technologies first, providing them with the best experience.

For President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, only 10 percent of the U.S. population used a smartphone.  Today, 88 percent of Americans own smartphones and more than 95 percent of Verizon’s data traffic runs on its 4G LTE network, which launched nationwide about two years after that first inauguration.

“We’ve been preparing our network in the D.C. area for months to be ready for this historic event. Verizon customers at the inauguration will be using Instagram, SnapChat, and Twitter to share photos and videos of the swearing in ceremony, run Facebook Live while attending the parade, and connect with folks back home, all from their wireless devices,” Palmer said.

Read the full release at Verizon.com