Verizon Business Wins Metro Ethernet Forum European 'Service Innovation' Award

GENEVA - Verizon Business has been awarded the 2007 European Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year Award for Service Innovation from the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). Verizon Business won on the strength of the company's comprehensive and robust Ethernet portfolio, European geographic coverage and ongoing industry innovation.

The MEF Service Provider of the Year Awards recognize excellence and leadership in the development, marketing and delivery of carrier Ethernet business services. The Service Innovation Award is granted to the service provider that, in the opinion of the judges, has provided the most innovative offering to the European market, with demonstrable market success across an extensive geography.

Verizon Business' award recognizes, among other areas, the ongoing increase in geographic availability of the company's Ethernet services including Verizon Ethernet Private Line and Verizon Ethernet access to Private IP. Verizon Business is also expanding its available speeds to up to 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, as well as enhancing its customer service capabilities.  Verizon Business' continuous development of new Ethernet products ensures a broad Ethernet product portfolio to fit specific customer needs.

Verizon Business accepted its 2007 European Service Provider of the Year Award at an MEF-sponsored reception in Geneva on September 25 as part of the 3rd Annual Carrier Ethernet World Congress conference event. The award is the latest in a string of accolades for the company's Ethernet portfolio - most recently, Verizon received the MEF's 2007 Carrier Ethernet Service Provider of the Year - U.S. Category award - which give testament to the company's growing leadership in the global Ethernet space.

Mike Marcellin, vice president of global product marketing, Verizon Business, said:  "Our multinational customers are increasingly relying on Ethernet to transport their mission-critical data, and we are continuing to expand our solution portfolio and geographic availability to meet their needs.

"Ethernet is playing an important role in the IP evolution, and Verizon Business is committed to helping our customers realize the new capabilities and benefits our services can offer today and in the future. We're delighted to be recognized by the Metro Ethernet Forum as the European Service Innovator of the Year, and look forward to maintaining that position over the coming years," Marcellin said.

In commenting on the awards, Nan Chen, president of the MEF, said: "The quality and standard of the entries for this year's awards was outstanding. Congratulations to Verizon Business for winning the service innovation award. This is true testament to how important Carrier Ethernet service offerings have become to the world's leading service providers."

The Metro Ethernet Forum's award winners were selected by a judging panel chosen from key industry analysts covering this sector in Europe. Submitted entries are evaluated anonymously, and the names of the winning providers are not revealed to the MEF until the judging process has been completed.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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