2008 Was Year Of Immense Growth For Verizon Wireless In Georgia

ALPHARETTA, GA — In its ongoing effort to provide the best wireless service, Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, including the nation’s largest wireless 3G broadband network, announced today it invested more than $160 million in 2008 to enhance its network in Georgia. The expansion enhancements included building more than 30 new cell sites across the state, upgrading existing towers, increasing the coverage area of its high-speed wireless broadband network and expanding to new markets in South Georgia (Valdosta and Waycross). Additional capacity was also added at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta City Hall and Georgia World Congress Center facilities in Atlanta and at the University of Georgia’s football stadium in Athens. Lastly, Verizon Wireless, who employs more than 3,000 people in Georgia, opened several new retail stores during 2008, bringing the total number of company-owned and -operated locations to 79 statewide.

In the fourth quarter of 2008 alone, coverage was enhanced and expanded with new cell towers in the following Georgia cities:

Aonia
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the town of Aonia along US Highway 78.

Athens
This new cell site provides increased capacity and coverage for the Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data network in and around Sandford Stadium.

Atlanta

Multiple new cell sites were turned up to provide Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the following areas of metro Atlanta:

• Along I-20W and Six Flags Hill on the west end of Atlanta close to Six Flags Over Georgia park
• Along Cobb Parkway and Cumberland Boulevard and in the Vinings Village area
• In the city’s northeast neighborhoods along Old Fountain Road, Auburn Road and Hog Mountain Road
• In the Hampton area and along US 19/41 near Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Inside the Atlanta City Hall building

Augusta
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage to the main facilities and roads on Savannah River Site (SRS), including SC 125 to Jackson, S.C.

Carrollton
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage along Highway 166.

Columbus
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage to residential and business campuses in and around the Mutec Corporate Park.

Douglasville
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage along Highway 166 between Campbellton and Carrollton.

Dublin
This new tower provides improved calling capacity and in-building service to the Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data network in the residential and retail areas west of downtown Dublin, including the mall and VA Medical Center.

Ellijay
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage along SR 515 and US 76 in the western part of the city.

Loganville
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the area between New Hope Road and Windsor Road, and between Highway 20 and Luke Edwards Road in the city of Loganville. This site also expands coverage to include the new homes built around Tribble Mill Park.

Newnan
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the Coweta County Fairgrounds, residential and commercial areas of south Newnan, and areas around I-85 and US 27A/US 29 exit (Moreland exit).

Peachtree City
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in residential and commercial areas around Highway 54 and Walt Banks Road and Sumner Road.

Rome
Multiple new cell sites provide Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data capacity to Rome and surrounding areas.

Savannah
This new cell site provides improved calling capacity and in-building service levels to the Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data network in the operational and residential areas of Ft. Stewart, including the 3rd ID and Ft. Stewart command areas.

Tallapoosa
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the Kelly Creek area.

Thomasville
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage to residential and retail areas along GA 122 between Thomasville and Pavo.

Toomsboro
This new cell site provides Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage to residential and retail areas in the town of Toomsboro and along GA 112.

Valdosta

Multiple new cell sites in the Valdosta area expand the Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess data and Mobile Broadband data coverage in the following areas:

• Residential areas along US 23 between Hazlehurst and Alma
• Residential and retail areas in northwest Valdosta between Valdosta Tech and Valdosta State University
• Residential areas along US 84 between Dupont and Stockton
• Residential and retail areas in the town of Ray City and along US 129 between Lakeland, Nashville and Moody AFB
• Residential areas along US 441 between Homerville and Fargo
• Residential areas along GA 94 between Fargo and Statenville
• Residential and retail areas between Bemiss and Moody AFB and along GA 125, including the new base housing area at Moody AFB
• Residential areas along US 129 between Stockton and Statenville Residential and retail areas in the northern areas of Valdosta, including the Valdosta Country Club

In addition to the new cell sites listed above, the company’s high-speed Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology was enhanced to provide greater access and capacity in the fourth quarter 2008 in the areas of Gainesville, Rockmart, Jackson, Wrightsville, Hayesville, Barnesville, Columbus, Whites, Buchanan, Waleska, Athens, Macon, Dawson, Blythe, Stockbridge, Winder, Fort Gaines, Carrollton, McRae, Cuthbert, Graniteville, Albany, Augusta, St. Simons Island, Hinesville, Swainsboro, Wadley, Louisville, Waynesboro, Jessup and along Highway 61 and Highway 92 in north Georgia.

“Network reliability is the number one reason customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless. Our investment in 2008 continues our long-time commitment to investing our resources to stay ahead of demand and ensure our customers have the best wireless experience,” said Jeff Mango, president – Georgia/Alabama region, Verizon Wireless. “The reliability of our network is just one of the reasons Verizon Wireless has led the industry in customer loyalty for consecutive quarters*. In 2009, we will continue to perfect our network so that our customers in Georgia know they can depend on us every time they pick up their wireless device.”

Specifically, in 2008 the company completed the expansion of its 3G EV-DO Rev. A network to 100 percent across the state. This technology provides customers with access to e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet, Web-based applications, and entertainment content. Verizon Wireless customers can download files at speeds significantly faster than customers of other wireless service providers that use different network technologies.

“More and more, customers demand these high-speed services for both work and entertainment,” said Mango. “In the fourth quarter of 2008, Verizon Wireless customers nationwide sent more than 90 billion text messages and 1.8 billion picture/video messages. Customers also completed 136 million downloads of music, videos, games, ringtones, ringback tones, and exclusive content during the three month period. Our network must stay ahead of the game to support the demand.”

The company’s continued investment in Georgia is part of Verizon Wireless’ ongoing effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $50 billion since it was formed – $5.5 billion on average every year – to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. In 2007 and 2008, Verizon Wireless invested $6.5 billion nationwide to expand and advance its network.

* Loyalty claims based upon publicly available churn (customer turnover) figures.

Editor’s Note: If you are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman (real, live examples of the character portrayed on the television commercials), please contact Caran Smith at (678) 339-4891 or Caran.Smith@verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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