Verizon Deploying Advanced Electronics To Better Serve Philadelphia Area Customers

PHILADELPHIA - Verizon customers in Philadelphia and its suburbs soon will benefit from a $19 million upgrade and expansion of the company's telecommunications network that will increase capacity and reliability.

Verizon is installing advanced electronic equipment that routes voice and high-speed data transmissions on and off the company's fiber-optic SONET (synchronous optical network) rings, much like entrance and exit ramps on an expressway. The equipment, known as "add-drop multiplexers," combines voice and data traffic into one lane, or path, as it enters or exits a SONET ring. Remaining lanes carry traffic for other destinations.

This equipment enables Verizon's network to accommodate much larger volumes of voice and data at higher speeds, and helps the company to provide high-speed/high-capacity services more quickly to business customers. SONET rings provide multiple routes for voice and high-speed data services and are self-healing, automatically rerouting telecommunications transmissions in the event of a service disruption.

Verizon has installed the new multiplexers in its network between two Philadelphia call-switching offices and plans to add several hundred more in the Philadelphia metropolitan area over the next 18 to 24 months.

In addition to its latest investment in Philadelphia and its suburbs, Verizon continues to install fiber-optic cable throughout the commonwealth. Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass fibers and digital technology to deliver high-quality telephone service along with sophisticated data communications services. Verizon Pennsylvania ranks fourth among the nation's local telephone companies in fiber-optic cable installed in its network, according to reports compiled by the Federal Communications Commission.

"This project underscores Verizon's commitment to build and maintain a state-of-the-art telecommunications network throughout Pennsylvania," said Daniel J. Whelan, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "We continue to upgrade our infrastructure to provide rural, suburban and urban customers with better quality service, as well as the platform for high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities and a host of other innovative services."

Verizon has invested approximately $3 billion in its telecommunications network across the commonwealth over the last three years.

"We are building an advanced telecommunications network that will stimulate job and income growth and will make Pennsylvania one of the most attractive locations for corporations and individuals," Whelan said.

In addition to deploying the latest technology, Verizon offers Pennsylvanians a complete range of telecommunications services, including local, regional and long-distance calling, and data, high-speed Internet and wireless services.

"The level of telecom competition in Pennsylvania today is unprecedented," said Whelan. "Verizon's entry into the long-distance market last October is accelerating that competition. And consumers are the winners, because they are seeing real savings in their pockets, just as consumers in other states have benefited when full competition became a fact of life there."

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.1 million access line equivalents and 30.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 241,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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