Verizon Deploys Fiber Optics, Electronics, Bringing Additional Advanced Technology To Sussex County

SELBYVILLE, Del. - Verizon Communications is investing $222,000 to expand and modernize its local telephone network in the Selbyville area of Sussex County. This represents one of the company's major fiber-optic projects in Sussex County during the second half of this year.

Verizon is installing fiber-optic cable and electronic equipment along Route 54 near the community of Selbyville, which is a main route to Delaware beaches through one of the state's fastest growing areas. The aerial and underground cables contain a total of 859 fiber miles, or the total distance if all of the fibers in the cable were placed end to end.

This advanced equipment will provide increased bandwidth for customers in the Bayville Shores area and will increase the reliability of Verizon's advanced telecommunications network. The project is expected to be finished by the end of this year.

"Our mission is ensuring that Delaware's citizens have full access to the opportunities of the new economy," said Joshua W. Martin III, president of Verizon Delaware. "Verizon is committed to building a telecommunications network that is second to none and to delivering the benefits of advanced technology to everyone."

Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass strands and digital technology to deliver high quality telephone services as well as high-speed/high-capacity voice and data services.

Martin said Verizon has accelerated its investment in telecommunications infrastructure throughout the First State:

• Investment in the company's Delaware network since 1995 exceeds $450 million.

• Miles of fiber in the state increased by 9.2 percent from 88,827 miles in 1999 to more than 97,000 miles today.

• The company deployed 68 SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) rings in its Delaware network in 2000. SONET rings provide multiple choices of high-speed voice and data services and are self-healing, automatically rerouting telecommunications transmissions in the event of a service disruption.

• Verizon Online DSL service was launched in Delaware in January 2000. DSL is a high-speed connection to the Internet that enables users to surf the World Wide Web at speeds much faster than today's fastest analog modems. Today, more than 70,000 Delaware households are able to get Verizon Online DSL.

"Telecommunications-intensive information and service sectors have driven Delaware's economy in recent years and are predicted to increase in importance," Martin said. "Verizon's investment in telecommunications infrastructure will enhance Delaware's ability to stimulate economic growth, attract new jobs and businesses and provide the opportunity to shape our state's future in the 21st century."

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 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.