Verizon Wireless Completes $20 Million Network Enhancement In Louisiana During First Half Of 2009

SHREVEPORT, LA — Verizon Wireless announced today that it invested more than $20 million to enhance services and coverage throughout Louisiana in the first six months of 2009, including the activation of cell sites throughout the state. The company's ongoing network investment exceeds $50 billion nationally since the company was formed.

The installation of new transmission sites is a key part of the network investment and ensuring the most reliable wireless coverage for residents. Fifteen new wireless transmission sites have been activated in the state so far this year, providing expanded coverage to residents and businesses throughout Louisiana.

Network upgrades help provide high-speed access to advanced services such as V CAST — which allows customers to stream video clips, play cutting-edge 3-D games and download full-song tracks over-the-air; and VZ Navigator(SM) — a location-based service offering maps, audible driving directions, traffic updates, gas station locations and pricing. The all-digital network also powers a number of products that keep you connected on the go, such as the new MiFi™ 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot that allows customers to create their own personal Wi-Fi spot and share the connection with family and friends, as the MiFi supports up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

Verizon Wireless also helps Louisiana residents work from the road, providing a fast and reliable connection thanks to the company's continued investment and network enhancements in the state and throughout the nation. Customers can wirelessly access their e-mail and calendars, the Internet and other information anytime, anywhere via a secure connection with the company's Mobile Broadband service. Mobile Broadband offers average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 Megabyte attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file — in about eight seconds and upload the same-size file in less than 13 seconds.

"Our customers in Louisiana have come to expect the best from Verizon Wireless," said Frank Antonacci, region president for Verizon Wireless. "We've made extensive investments throughout the state to provide our customers with the most reliable network and access to the advanced services and technologies in the industry."

Network tests in the first half of 2009 indicate that the investment to further boost network strength is working for customers. This testing is performed by teams of technicians who have traveled approximately 18,500 miles across the state so far this year. The teams of Test Men and Women ride in special vehicles loaded with computers, wireless phones and other equipment to measure and ensure strength and reliability versus other carriers.

Verizon Wireless tests the network year-round to ensure the most reliable service every day as well as during high-traffic sporting events like New Orleans Saints and LSU game days. The company's intensive investments and preparations also prove critical during natural disasters and other emergencies. After the extraordinary storms in recent years, Verizon Wireless' network remained strong while many other wireless communication networks struggled.

(Editor's Note: To accompany a Verizon Wireless Test Man, tour a network facility or emergency command center, or obtain broadcast-quality video B-roll and still images of network operations/emergency preparations, contact Audrey Lundy at 972-444-5516.)

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 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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