VZW: Droid won’t strain 3G network

Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ, NYSE:VOD) isn’t holding anything back in its launch of the new Motorola (NYSE:MOT) Droid, engaging in its biggest ever marketing campaign to sell the Android-powered smartphone. VZW is anticipating unprecedented device sales accompanied by a surge of new traffic from millions of new unlimited-data subscriptions, but Verizon officials today expressed confidence that its nationwide 3G network can handle the data tsunami heading its way.

“We’re encouraging it,” said Arvin Singh, VZW director of data sales for the Illinois-Wisconsin region. “We’re anticipating the Droid will be a blockbuster, but we’re not adding any new backhaul or new EV-DO carriers for the launch. We’re not anticipating the network will take a hit on this.”