Verizon Wireless Still Largely 3G A Year After 4G LTE Debut

More than a year after Verizon Wireless debuted its mobile broadband network known as 4G LTE, just 5% of its customers have switched to the faster data network.

The company heavily promotes the service, which reaches 200 million Americans, and has rolled out about 20 smartphones and tablets that connect to the network, such as the Samsung Electronics Co. Galaxy Nexus. After investing in its 3G network ahead of the Apple Inc. iPhone launch last year, the carrier is focused on drawing customers to its LTE network, said Fran Shammo, chief financial officer of Verizon Communications Inc., which co-owns the wireless unit with Vodafone Group PLC.