Verizon Upgrades Service At Belle Isle For Detroit Grand Prix

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Verizon Wireless customers heading to the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix this weekend will find enhanced service due to hardware improvements made in the months leading up to the event.

The wireless company added small cells sites on Belle Isle, and throughout metro Detroit, which adds capacity allows its customers to better connect to the network to place calls, update social media sites and check websites for updates on their favorite drivers in the race.

This investment benefits Grand Prix race fans, but also visitors to Belle Isle throughout the year.

"The small cells that we have deployed will stay here year around," said Lauren Love-Wright, president of the Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region for Verizon Wireless. "It will not only provide a great experience during the race, but it will also support the community and make sure that those who come and use the island will have a great experience."

The new small cells sites are some of the 100 "small cell" sites in Detroit including Belle Isle, the Detroit Riverfront, Rosa Parks Transit Center, and Campus Martius Park. According to Verizon, a small cell consists of a radio, antenna, power and a fiber connection. It has a range of nearly 1,000 feet and is 4G LTE-enabled.

The small cells are part of Verizon's $100 million investment in metro Detroit in the past year.