Verizon Wireless Boosts Cellular Service for Democratic National Convention
Verizon Wireless Boosts Cellular Service for Democratic National Convention
New Cell Sites Added In and Around the Staples and Los Angeles Convention Centers
August 9, 2000
| Media contact: | Andrew Colley, |
Irvine, CA - In preparation for the Democratic National Convention, August 14 - 18, Verizon Wireless is deploying six new cell sites - three permanent and three portable, in and around the Staples and Los Angeles Convention Centers, as well as adding capacity to existing cell sites in the downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport areas.
These new sites and increased capacity will provide coverage for Verizon Wireless users among the more than 35,000 delegates and members of the media for the national convention. Two permanent Verizon Wireless cell sites have been installed in the Los Angeles Convention Center, and one near the Staples Center. Three portable cell sites will also be located to provide extra capacity throughout downtown Los Angeles.
"We are expecting approximately 18,000 additional cell phone users during the convention," said Regional President Mike Finley. "For most major events, one Verizon Wireless portable cell site is sufficient to meet our customers' needs, but we are anticipating very high call volumes as people confer with colleagues or call friends back home. We began preparation for these network enhancements began when the dates for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles were announced over two years ago."
"Since then, Verizon Wireless employees have been working to evaluate the needs of the convention, install cell sites and integrate the new sites into the network," Finley added. "The enormous energy that we have invested to significantly boost the cell site capacity in the Los Angeles area reflects our ongoing commitment to providing quality service to our customers."
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 25 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp --now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The new company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.