Verizon’s 4G LTE Network Coming To 27 New Markets This Week

America’s largest 4G network is getting a little larger this Thursday. Verizon has announced it will bring its 4G LTEnetwork into 27 new markets this week, and will be expanding the service in 44 of its existing markets.

The expansion makes Verizon’s 4G LTE network available in a total of 230 markets, which — according to Verizon — makes the service available to more than two thirds of the U.S. population.

New markets set to start speeding along on Verizon’s 4G LTE super highway include:

Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Pine Bluff, Siloam Springs and Van Buren, Ark.

Visalia/Porterville, Calif.

Fort Walton Beach and Ocala, Fla.

Brunswick, LaGrange and Macon/Warner Robins, Ga.

Peoria, Ill.

Kokomo/Logansport and Marion, Ind.

Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend and Hays, Kan.

Salisbury, Md.

Cattaraugus/Allegany, N.Y.

Sandusky, Ohio

Ardmore and Ponca City, Okla.

Salem/Albany/Corvallis, Ore.

Pierre, S.D.

Big Springs and Tyler, Texas.

Verizon currently carries a substantial number of 4G LTE devices, including the “pure Android” Galaxy Nexusand the new iPad. It’s biggest competition in the LTE market is from AT&T, which expanded its LTE network by an additional 14 cities last month.

At the time, AT&T noted that its network supported 250 million people (more than Verizon) — however, it included its HSPA+ network along with its LTE network to get that number. While HSPA+ is considered “4G” it isn’t capable of data speeds nearly as fast as LTE.

Sprint has plans to roll out its own 4G LTE network later this year, and has already announced that it will be carrying the Galaxy Nexus, LG Viper, and the HTC EVO 4G LTE as its first LTE devices.

T-Mobile will be bringing up the rear in the world of LTE, and is set to launch its LTE network in 2012.