Verizon Expands Switching Center To Better Serve Millsboro, Del. Customers

MILLSBORO, Del. - Verizon customers soon will benefit from a $1.2 million investment the company is making to expand its Millsboro telephone office. The building houses a digital switch, a state-of-the-art computer that routes calls to their destinations, and other advanced telecommunications equipment.

Verizon is doubling the size of its Millsboro facility to accommodate new switching equipment and to provide for future equipment deployment in one of the fastest-growing areas of Sussex County. Verizon currently serves about 5,800 telephone lines in the 933 and 934 exchanges from its Millsboro switching center.

"Because of Verizon's investment in Delaware, an advanced broadband, fiber-optic network now serves every corner of the state from Rockland to Rehoboth," said Joshua W. Martin III, president of Verizon Delaware. "The ability to build, enhance and maintain complex networks is at the very heart of our business. We have played a key role in Delaware's economic development for more than a century, and we intend to be a part of Delaware's telecommunications future in the 21st century and beyond."

Martin said Verizon's commitment to improve Delaware's telecommunications infrastructure includes:
• Investment of more than $550 million in the company's Delaware network since 1995.

• Fiber deployment in the state, which increased from 115,770 fiber miles at the end of 2001 to 119,464 fiber miles at the end of September 2002.

• Deployment of nearly 400 SONET (synchronous optical network) rings in its Delaware network. SONET rings provide multiple routes for high-speed voice and data services and are self-healing, automatically rerouting telecommunications transmissions in the event of a service disruption.

"Verizon is the only telecommunications company committed to significant investment in Delaware's future," Martin said. "Verizon's Delaware network is open to residents and businesses as well as our competitors. We welcome competition in the local marketplace, and any company that sincerely wants to compete here can do so."

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 135.0 million access line equivalents and 31.5 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and more than 236,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 35 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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