Middlesex County Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

Middlesex County Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Calling, Data Access and Music

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for residents and commuters in Middlesex County, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with three new cell sites.

The new Middlesex County cell sites will improve network coverage and capacity in the following areas:

-- In Monroe, two new cell sites will boost coverage along Route 614,
between Applegarth and Spotswood-Englishtown roads, north to Route 612
and Schoolhouse Road, and south to Federal Road.

-- In South Amboy, along Broadway from Main Street to Route 35 and from
Stevens Avenue to South Shore Drive.

Verizon Wireless invested $2 billion to enhance its New York Metro area network and more than $40 billion across the nation in the past seven years to stay ahead of the growing demand for the company's voice, data and mobile entertainment services, like VZ Navigator, which provides audible turn-by-turn directions; V CAST Mobile TV, offering eight broadcast quality mobile television channels; and V CAST Music which allows customers to download full songs directly to their V CAST-capable wireless phones and Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP-based PCs.

"Reliable networks are not built overnight," said Charles Hand, president of the company's New York Metro Region. "Our New Jersey customers are among the most demanding and tech savvy in the nation and Verizon Wireless continues to efficiently invest in network enhancements to deliver the reliable and innovative services customers want. Better yet, Verizon Wireless is the only major carrier with a 30-day network test drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier."

Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the third quarter when the company added 1.6 million new customers, and continued its industry- leading customer loyalty rates. Verizon Wireless now serves more than 63.7 million customers nationwide.

Verizon Wireless's high-speed third generation wireless broadband network has been enhanced with EVDO Rev. A technology. This enhancement allows customers who use the company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, to interact with Web-based applications, download music over the air, access to e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet, and more at speeds that are eight to nine times faster than before. For example, BroadbandAccess customers with Rev. A compatible devices can now expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 megabyte email attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file -- in about eight seconds and upload the same sized file in less than 13 seconds.

Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 98 specially equipped vehicles nearly one million miles each year on Interstate, U.S. and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets in high- population areas, based upon U.S. Census counts, to confirm that voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

For more information on Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: David Samberg, +1-845-365-7212,
David.samberg@verizonwireless.com; or Melinda McLoughlin, +1-973-830-7397,
melinda.mcloughlin@vivianipr.com, both for Verizon Wireless

Web site:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

NOTE TO EDITORS: Test Man Ride-Along Program: To set up an interview and ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Kimberly Ancin +1-845-429-3839

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