Users of LTE (long-term evolution) smartphones can still make phone calls and use slower data connections on Verizon's CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access) network, according to a Verizon statement released at 4:15 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday. However, subscribers can't use the LTE network, Verizon's fastest, nor activate any LTE devices, the company said.

"We have determined the cause of our issue and are working with our major vendors to restore connections," the statement said. "We expect to see the network restore on a market-by-market basis. Timing and additional details will be provided as they become available."

Verizon first acknowledged the problem earlier on Wednesday after published reports that the network had gone down nationwide. The outage , which was launched commercially late last year. Verizon's is the first national network using LTE and of 6.5M bps (bits per second) downstream and 5M bps upstream in tests by PC World. Rival AT&T plans to launch an LTE network later this year.

Some subscribers reported having to use EV-DO, Verizon's 3G technology, for data connections on Wednesday. In its statement, Verizon warned that some users might only be able to use CDMA 1x-RTT, the carrier's slowest mobile data network, during the outage.

The IDG News Service