Verizon Wireless Planning To Invest More Than $100 Million In Upstate New York Network In 2009

—35 new cell sites activated region-wide in first half of year; more on the way
—96% of Upstate New Yorkers have access to the company’s 3G network
—More than $1.1 billion invested in region since 2000
—4G wireless infrastructure construction underway

ROCHESTER, NY — Verizon Wireless is planning to invest more than $100 million in network enhancements throughout Upstate New York for the ninth consecutive year. This investment will bring Verizon Wireless’ total network investment in Upstate New York to more than $1.1 billion since 2000 – significantly more than any other wireless company in the region.

The company invested more than $67 million and activated 35 new cell sites across the region through June. Additional sites are either under construction or will be in service by year end. Verizon Wireless also has begun building the underlying infrastructure that will enable it to become the first wireless company to offer commercial fourth-generation (4G) service in the United States, starting in 2010.

"We've always believed even the most advanced cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on," said Marquett Smith, president of the company’s Upstate New York Region. “Our 3G high-speed Mobile Broadband network is the largest and most reliable in the United States and we expect to commercially launch our Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G network in up to 30 markets nationwide in 2010.”

The regional investment is part of a more than $5.5 billion average annual investment nationwide – more than $50 billion invested since the company was formed.

“Investment in our network is an investment in customer satisfaction,” said Gene Fassett, executive director of Network for Verizon Wireless’ Upstate New York Region. “Providing an outstanding customer experience starts with the network and customers continue to choose Verizon Wireless because they know their wireless device is only as reliable as the network it’s on.”

In addition to the new cell sites, the company continues to add network capacity to meet increased local demand, expand MobileBroadband – its high-speed wireless broadband network – across the region, and activate new sites along the 50-mile Northway Corridor on Interstate 87 between Albany and Plattsburgh.

•Expanded MobileBroadband coverage – Last year, Verizon Wireless completed expansion of MobileBroadband, the company’s 3G wireless data service, across its entire Upstate New York network. Ninety-six percent of the Upstate New York population and 73% of the region’s geographical area are now covered by third generation EV-DO technology. As the company adds new cell sites to its Upstate New York network, its 3G coverage area expands even more, giving Verizon Wireless customers throughout much of New York State an untethered mobile office experience and enabling them to wirelessly access the Internet, email and other data on their laptop computers at faster speeds, and download music, watch videos and play 3D games on their phones. MobileBroadband provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500kbps-800 kbps, translating to being able to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment – the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file – in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.
•Bringing coverage to the Northway – In 2007, Verizon Wireless unveiled its plan to bring wireless service to the Northway Corridor within the Adirondack Park by building 13 new cell sites in six communities. To date, four sites have been activated and a fifth is scheduled to go into service before year end. The remaining cell sites are in process and applications for each will be submitted upon completion.
In addition to building new sites and expanding its network coverage and capacity, the company also continues to invest in redundancy capabilities designed to keep the network operating during power outages and in its rigorous quality assurance program – daily testing designed to analyze network reliability and assist the company in targeting improvements.

Verizon Wireless’ investment in the Upstate New York region reflects its commitment to offer customers the most reliable wireless service available. The company’s ‘nation’s most reliable wireless network’ reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the “Can you hear me now” national advertising campaign.

These engineers drive 90 specially equipped vehicles almost 1 million miles annually on Interstate, U.S. and state highways, as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 3 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 about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2-JOIN-IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Editor’s Note: Test Man Ride-Along Program:
If you are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact John O’Malley at 585-321-7264.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.