(Telecompaper) Verizon said that all 21 LTE in Rural America (LRA) participants have launched 4G services, reaching a milestone in rural America, with itself and the partners fully meeting their original goal of deploying 4G LTE technology and spectrum across rural counties in 15 states. To date, the programme has recorded the lease of 225,000 square miles of Verizon spectrum by LRA participants across 169 rural counties in 15 states. Over 1,000 4G LTE cell sites have been activated, covering an area larger than Colorado, with the cell sites covering 2.7 million people. Finally, more than 50 wireless devices have been certified, including smartphones, tablets and connected devices. Current LRA participants include Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S and R Communications, Carolina West, Custer Telephone Cooperative, KPU Telecommunications, Chariton Valley Communication Corporation, Appalachian Wireless, Northwest Missouri Cellular, Chat Mobility, Matanuska Telephone Association, Wireless Partners, Triangle Communications, Nemont, Mid-Rivers Communications and Copper Valley Telecom.