Northeastern Pennsylvania Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

Northeastern Pennsylvania Residents to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

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

MOSCOW, Pa., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for Northeastern Pennsylvania residents, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with two new cell sites in the region in the month of August. The new sites increase coverage and capacity in both Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. In Lackawanna County, coverage and capacity will increase along Routes 348, 590, 690, as well as Interstate 84 and the Mount Cobb area. In Luzerne County, coverage and capacity will increase along Route 115 between Shades Creek and Blakeslee.

The network expansion is part of an aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days) to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless' voice and data services. Verizon Wireless continues to improve its wireless network in Pennsylvania. So far this year, the company reports it has spent nearly $150 million on new cell sites and other upgrades that give customers clearer reception and fewer dropped calls. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.6 billion in Pennsylvania since 2000.

Nationally, the company has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to offer customers the most reliable service available, including wireless data services such as picture messaging and text messaging and the company's exclusive V CAST service. V CAST brings video clips of TV shows, music on demand and other multimedia services to wireless phones over Verizon Wireless' high-speed EV-DO network. Verizon Wireless' high-speed third generation wireless broadband network has been enhanced with EV-DO 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 e-mail 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.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the second quarter of 2008 as the company added 1.5 million net new customers. For the 15th consecutive quarter, Verizon Wireless also led the wireless industry with an all-time high in customer loyalty. The company posted a churn (customer turnover) rate of just 1.1 percent, setting an industry and company record.

Verizon Wireless tests its network and those of its competitors to ensure the Verizon Wireless network remains the nation's most reliable. Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 98 specially equipped vehicles almost 1 million miles annually 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 determine if 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.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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: Brett Marcy, +1-717-231-5340, or Sheldon Jones,
+1-215-638-5668, Sheldon.jones@verizonwireless.com, both of Verizon Wireless

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives interested in setting up an interview or ride-along network drive test with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman can call Brett Marcy at (717) 231-5340.

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