Verizon Wireless Invests More Than $114 Million in 2006 to Enhance Indiana Network; New Cell Sites, Equipment Upgrades, High-Speed Wireless Network Expansion Improve System

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 4, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Verizon Wireless announced today it has invested more than $114 million in 2006 to enhance its digital network in Indiana. The enhancements included building new cell sites and upgrading existing cell sites, increasing coverage area, and expanding the high-speed wireless broadband network to many new markets.

“Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless,” said Greg Haller, president-Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. “Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so that it remains dependable.”

Verizon Wireless has invested $732 million over the past seven years on improvements to its network in Indiana, including the following upgrades made in 2006:

    -- Thirty-three new cell sites were activated statewide to improve network      coverage and capacity, enabling more customers to use their phones      concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture      and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying      clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.  -- Equipment on 171 existing cell sites throughout the state was upgraded.  -- Fifty-six permanent backup generators were installed at Indiana cell      sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.  -- The company expanded its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO)      third-generation (3G) wide-area network to Anderson, Evansville, Fort      Wayne, Lafayette, Muncie and South Bend. Additionally, the company      built out its current coverage of Indianapolis. The EV-DO network      enables two new services for Verizon Wireless customers:       -- BroadbandAccess, geared toward mobile professionals and business           customers, is the company's high-speed wireless service, offering           consumers speed, mobility and security with average user speeds of           400-700 kilobits per second (kbps).       -- V CAST is a consumer-oriented multimedia service that offers music           and short content on demand, including cutting-edge 3D games,           music videos, news, weather and sports. 

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD) (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.

This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com

 CONTACT:  Verizon Wireless           Media Contact:           Michelle Gilbert           248-915-3680           michelle.gilbert@verizonwireless.com            Borshoff Johnson Matthews for Verizon Wireless            Media Contact:           Christopher Stolarski           317-631-6400           cstolarski@bjmpr.com