Verizon Wireless plans to launch its high-speed mobile network in Bend next week, apparently the first major cellular phone carrier to offer 4G LTE service in the region.

The company announced Tuesday that Bend would be among the 21 cities nationwide to get the service Oct. 18. With the additional areas, Verizon will have 4G LTE — or fourth generation, long-term evolution — service in 417 cities total in the U.S., far more than any other major carrier.

Other carriers have been rapidly upgrading their networks to 4G LTE, and BendBroadband upgraded its wireless Internet to 4G LTE last year, according to The Bulletin’s archives.

Deciphering network types can become a game of alphabet soup, with various carriers offering 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 4G HSPA and more.

Much of the nation’s more populated areas have 3G, or third generation, coverage, which allows faster Web surfing, video conferencing, local mapping and other data-rich services for those with smartphones.

AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and others have some type of 4G, according to their websites or annual and quarterly reports.

But smartphones capable of accessing LTE using LTE-enabled networks are expected to handle communications over the Internet like calls from hard-wired computers using Voice over Internet Protocol and the new applications expected in the next wave of consumer devices, according to Consumer Reports.

The iPhone 5, released last month, is the first iPhone with LTE capability, according to Apple.

Carriers have been racing to deploy 4G LTE networks.

Almost daily AT&T announces a new city to have 4G LTE. So far about 75 cities nationwide, including Portland, have it. AT&T also has regular 4G service available in many areas.

T-Mobile also has 4G service in many areas, with plans to start adding LTE next year.

U.S. Cellular, a regional carrier that serves Central Oregon, has 4G LTE service in 16 cities nationwide with plans to add about a dozen more, including Medford, by the end of the year, according to its website.