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New Mexico and El Paso Customers Benefit From More Than $30 Million Verizon Wireless Network Expansion in 2008

Posted on: Wednesday, 28 January 2009, 09:30 CST

Investment Expands and Enhances Network to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand For Wireless Calling, Data Access, Navigation, Music and More

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Wireless users in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, are making more wireless calls and using more data services thanks to Verizon Wireless' more than $30 million network investment in 2008. That's an average of more than $80,000 per day spent to provide customers with the reliable, high-quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless.

The company's ongoing network investment now totals more than $275 million in New Mexico and El Paso and more than $50 billion nationally over the past eight years. The 2008 enhancements significantly increase the number of calls and data transmissions the Verizon Wireless network can handle.

"Our customers are texting, handling e-mail, downloading music, visiting Web sites, sharing pictures and videos, and making calls at a record pace. Last year in New Mexico and El Paso, wireless data traffic increased nearly 150 percent from 2007," said Tony Heyman, regional president, Verizon Wireless.

"That's why we built the nation's largest and most reliable wireless network, and why we will continue to invest to make it better."

The 2008 network investment includes adding 10 new cell sites in New Mexico and El Paso, updating and adding capacity to many others, and further improving backup power capabilities to improve network reliability and add new services.

The multi-million dollar enhancement also includes expansion of the company's 3G high-speed wireless network throughout New Mexico and El Paso. Customers can access advanced wireless services at even faster broadband speeds, including:

• V CAST -- a multimedia service that allows customers to stream video clips, play cutting-edge 3D games, download full-song music tracks over-the-air, and get turn-by-turn audible driving directions and traffic updates with VZ Navigator(SM).
• Mobile Broadband -- a service that allows customers to wirelessly access their e-mail and calendars, the Internet, and other information anytime on a secure connection.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2008 with organic growth totaling 1.4 million net customer additions, essentially all of which were retail. Following the recently completed Alltel acquisition, Verizon Wireless now serves more than 80 million customers, excluding markets to be divested.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Source: PR Newswire

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