Verizon Invests $750,000 To Better Serve Pennsylvania's Altoona-Area Customers

ALTOONA, Pa. - Verizon customers in the Altoona area soon will have improved communications as the result of a $750,000 upgrade at the company's call-switching center here.

Verizon is expanding the capacity of its Altoona-area voice mail systems, sophisticated computers that route and store messages for residential and business customers. This upgrade will meet increased demand for voice mail services, increase reliability of Verizon's voice mail systems and accommodate future growth. The company plans to complete the project by the end of this month.

In addition, 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.

"The Altoona 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 one year ago 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 135.0 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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