Verizon Wireless Expanding Operations In Northern Alabama

Verizon Wireless Expanding Operations In Northern Alabama

Acquires Assets of Alabama Wireless Inc., Serving Seven-County Market North of Birmingham

January 17, 2002

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BEDMINSTER, NJ

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Verizon Wireless today announced it has acquired the business assets of Alabama Wireless, Inc., in a major expansion of its service footprint throughout a seven-county area stretching from Birmingham to Huntsville and Florence in the northern part of Alabama. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Alabama Wireless operation covers markets with a total population (POPS) of some 360,000. Major highways in the footprint include Interstates 65 and 78. (Click here to view coverage map -
http://news.verizonwireless.com/igallery/almaps.vtml.)

The business today operates under the Cellular One brand, which will be converted to the Verizon Wireless brand as the operation is integrated into the Verizon Wireless Mid-South Region, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. Customers will notice a new look to their bills by early May.

"This acquisition is great news for our customers in Alabama," noted Rick Gall, Verizon Wireless president - Mid-South Region. "It's virtually surrounded by our current operations and serves as a major roaming territory for customers traveling across the northern portions of the state.

"Now that we own the business, we'll be making the necessary network investments to improve service levels for customers entering and exiting the seven-county area covered by the operation."

Both Alabama Wireless and Verizon Wireless network infrastructure operate on the same Code Division Multiple Access, (CDMA), digital standard. Verizon Wireless acquired the Alabama Wireless cell sites and its switching center, located in Decatur, and three Alabama Wireless retail stores, located in Cullman, Oneonta and Decatur. About 24 Cellular One employees will join Verizon Wireless.

State counties served by the Alabama Wireless business include Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan, Marion, Winston, Cullman and Blount.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the leading wireless communications provider in the U.S., with the largest wireless network and more than 29.4 million customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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