Verizon Wireless Expands 3G Network in Maine with 76 New Cell Sites

Unicel Network Integration Nears Completion, Additional Upgrades to Existing Cell Sites across Eight Counties Effectively Doubles Network Coverage

WILMINGTON, Maine, May 7 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon Wireless today announced it added 76 new 3G cell sites across 12 Maine counties. The company also upgraded equipment at already existing 3G cell sites throughout eight of those counties — effectively doubling network coverage in those areas. These investments significantly expand Verizon Wireless’ voice and 3G high-speed wireless broadband network leadership in the Pine Tree State. More than 100 new 3G cell sites have been activated in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as part of Verizon Wireless’ ongoing integration of the legacy Unicel wireless network.

“The 3G network we’ve built in Maine is simply unprecedented,” explains Ken Dixon, president of Verizon Wireless’ New England Region. “One-hundred percent of our CDMA cell sites in Maine and across New England are 3G, giving local businesses and consumers incredible speed, mobility and reliability at home, in the office and on vacation. Verizon Wireless is New England’s 3G leader; no other wireless carrier can match our network.”

Since acquiring the Unicel network in August 2008 as part of its purchase of Rural Cellular Corporation, Verizon Wireless has worked to integrate those cell sites onto its 3G network. Today, Verizon Wireless has the largest and most reliable voice and 3G data network coverage area in the United States. The company’s advanced network provides exceptional call quality and gives customers with laptops or smartphones the ability to:

• Increase productivity — faster Internet allows quicker page-loading times and the ability to share files rapidly. Mobile Broadband Internet Access lets laptop users download a one megabyte email attachment in just eight seconds and upload the same file in less than 13 seconds.

• Benefit from mobile entertainment — quickly download and play music or watch streaming video. V CAST offers customers 3D games, streaming video, breaking news, sports and entertainment clips; V CAST with Rhapsody combines Verizon Wireless’ world-class, over-the-air mobile music service with Rhapsody’s leading desktop solution. Data intensive applications, like music and streaming video, perform optimally on a 3G network.

In addition to adding the new 3G cell sites — 103 new throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts — Verizon Wireless also made upgrades at existing cell sites across eight counties in Maine, rebanding the wireless signal to effectively double coverage areas. Backup batteries and power generators were also added to legacy Unicel cell sites that previously lacked emergency power. Now, more than 90% of Verizon Wireless’ cell sites throughout New England have both batteries and permanent generators to maintain the company’s cell sites during the loss of commercial power.

“By combining the Verizon Wireless and Unicel networks, we’ve created the most comprehensive 3G coverage of any wireless carrier in New England,” said Richard Enright, director for Network System Performance for Verizon Wireless. “We’ve invested nearly two and a half billion dollars into our New England network in the last nine years, believing that even the most sophisticated cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on.”

Verizon Wireless’ integration of the legacy Unicel network is detailed below:

    State                           Number of New 3G Verizon Wireless Cell
                                 Sites as part of Unicel network integration
    Maine                                           76
    New Hampshire *                                 24
    Massachusetts *                                  3

In Maine, Verizon Wireless’ integration of the legacy Unicel network enhanced the following areas:

    Name of County   Type of Network Upgrade

    Androscoggin     - 4 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Leeds,
     County            Lewiston, Turner

    Aroostook County - 19 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Aroostook,
                       Benedicta, Caribou, Fort Kent, Hogdon, Houlton, Island
                       Falls, Ludlow, Madawaska, Mapleton, Mars Hill,
                       Masardis, Orient, Portage Lake, Presque Isle,
                       Stockholm, Wallagrass

    Franklin County  - 4 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Farmington,
                       Jay, Strong, Wilton

    Kennebec County  - 10 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Chelsea,
                       Clinton, Kennebec,  Manchester, Oakland, Windsor,
                       Winthop

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Kennebec County
                       effectively doubling network coverage

    Knox County      - 2 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Camden, Union

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Knox County -
                       effectively doubling network coverage

    Lincoln County   - 3 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Boothbay,
                       Dresden, Jefferson

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Lincoln County
                       - effectively doubling network coverage

    Oxford County    - 3 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Hebron/Norway,
                       Rumford, Woodstock

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Oxford County -
                       effectively doubling network coverage

    Penobscot County - 15 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Argyle,
                       Bangor, Brewer, Charleston, Dexter, Howland, Husson,
                       Kenduskeag, Lee, Lincoln, Medway, Millinocket, Newport,
                       Patten

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Penobscot
                       County - effectively doubling network coverage

    Piscataquis      - 3 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Brownville,
     County            Greenville, Guilford

    Somerset County: - 6 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Athens,
                       Jackman, Norridgewock, Somerset County, Showhegan

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Somerset County
                       - effectively doubling network coverage

    Waldo County     - 2 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Belfast,
                       Prospect

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout Waldo County -
                       effectively doubling network coverage

    York County      - 5 new 3G cell sites serving portions of Biddeford,
                       Shapleigh, Waterboro, Wells, York

                     - Additional already existing 3G cell sites upgraded for
                       better voice and 3G coverage throughout York County -
                       effectively doubling network coverage

*For information about other regional upgrades, please contact media representatives.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 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