Verizon Wireless this week announced plans to accelerate EV-DO network expansion in the New York City area.

Verizon said it plans to extend EV-DO service to parts of Queens, Westchester and Rockland counties, Long Island and New Jersey's Bergen, Morris, Somerset, Middlesex and Monmouth counties by Labor Day 2005. Service is already available from Wall Street to the George Washington Bridge; from Fort Lee, N.J., east to Morristown; south to Summit and East Brunswick; and at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty Airports.

According to Verizon, the expansion is a reaction to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent call to grow high-speed wireless availability throughout the region.

"We are now accelerating our high-speed network build in the New York metropolitan area, responding to both the mayor's goal of expanding New York's lead, as well as to stay ahead of customer demand," said Charles Hand, New York Metro regional president of Verizon Wireless, in a statement.

So far this year, Verizon has invested $138 million in network enhancements in the New York metro area. The carrier invested $475 into its NYC network in 2004.