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Verizon Wireless Continues Commitment to North Carolina Customers by Investing More Than $175 Million in 2008

Posted on: Friday, 27 February 2009, 11:08 CST

Over 88 Percent of North Carolina Residents Can Access Verizon Wireless' High-Speed Broadband Service Thanks to New Cell Sites and Equipment Upgrades

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today that it spent more than $175 million in 2008 to enhance voice and data services and coverage throughout North Carolina, bringing the total statewide network investment to more than $1 billion since 2000. The investment is part of Verizon Wireless' aggressive multi-billion-dollar network investment each year to stay ahead of the growing demand in North Carolina for the company's superior voice and data services and to help ensure the North Carolina network offers the best, most reliable wireless service and is ready when severe weather hits.

Major areas of improvement across North Carolina in 2008 include:

• Significant enhancements to the Charlotte area, specifically for customers around Mount Holly Huntersville Road, Beatties Ford Road, Hornets Nest Park and the future I-485.
• Enhanced network coverage on Lake Norman, specifically in the Peninsula community in Cornelius and along I-77.
• Improved voice and data service in and around Raleigh and along Highways 15, 50 and 56 around Creedmoor.
• Extensive high-speed wireless Internet was brought to Jacksonville, Goldsboro, New Bern, Rocky Mount and Wilmington.
• Improved coverage along Interstate 26/US19/US23 between exits 23 and 21 in Asheville and in surrounding communities.

The network enhancements enable more Verizon Wireless customers to use their wireless phones to make calls, send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; and download games and ringtones, all while enjoying superior wireless coverage.

The $175M plus investment includes statewide activation of Verizon Wireless' national Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network. The enhanced network provides even higher-speed business and entertainment-based services on wireless phones, laptops and other wireless devices with Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess and V CAST multimedia services. Today, over 88 percent of North Carolinians have access to Verizon Wireless' high-speed broadband service, which gives residents access to high-speed wireless internet in small towns and larger cities.

"We work diligently to continue to provide North Carolinians with access to Verizon Wireless' exceptional voice and data services," said Jerry Fountain, president of Verizon Wireless' Carolinas/Tennessee Region. "We listen to what the customers want and have put forth a significant investment so customers can have consistent wireless coverage across the entire state of North Carolina."

To ensure a superior wireless network, teams of "Test Man" technicians ride in special vehicles loaded with computers, wireless phones and other equipment to measure and ensure strength and reliability versus other wireless carriers. In 2008, the technicians traveled approximately 29,131 miles on North Carolina roadways.

To meet customers' growing demand for Verizon Wireless' products and services across the state, Verizon Wireless has also opened new retail communications stores in Concord, Denver, Fuquay, Gastonia and Charlotte. 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.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 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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