Verizon Wireless has expanded the LTE network to cover more than 80 percent of the population in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Verizon Wireless has expanded the LTE network to cover more than 80 percent of the population in the metropolitan Detroit area. The expansion is the first since the company’s initial 4G LTE launch in December 2010. Much of metro Detroit has been impacted by spectrum interference with a Canadian TV station that has since been resolved, allowing the company to make this significant early expansion.

In another development, as part of the Verizon Wireless LTE in Rural America program, six rural carriers will be among the first in rural communities to have access to LTE networks. Introduced last June, the program is designed to fast-forward the delivery of 4G LTE service to rural areas. More than 250 organizations have expressed interest in the program since it was announced, including wireless companies, rural local exchange carriers, Internet service providers and power companies.

Bluegrass Cellular, Cellcom, Cross Wireless, Pioneer Cellular, Strata Networks and Thumb Cellular have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 1.8 million people and nearly 58,000 square miles in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin and Utah.

Through the LTE in Rural America program, Verizon Wireless works with rural companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G LTE network in their areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and 700 MHz spectrum. In addition, customers of participating companies will have access to Verizon Wireless’ nationwide 4G LTE network and those of other carriers in the program. Verizon Wireless customers also will be able to roam on 4G LTE networks built by program participants.

The company’s LTE network will cover two-thirds of the U.S. population by mid-2012, and by the end of 2013 the company will offer its 4G LTE network from coast to coast – everywhere it offers 3G today.