Residents Of Southern Illinois To Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancements

CARBONDALE, IL — Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the highest customer loyalty, has activated new cell sites in Murphysboro, Marion (including Pamela Park) and Benton which will enable more customers to use their wireless phones and air cards to make calls; send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

The new cell sites improve Verizon Wireless voice and data coverage in the following areas:

• Murphysboro - Murphysboro High School Campus and sports complex, Harrison little league baseball fields, Murphysboro Industrial Park, Jackson Square shopping center, Illinois Route 13 & 127 North of Murphysboro to Vergennes, Illinois, and Illinois Route 149 from Murphysboro to Desoto.
• Marion – the Marion-Herrin area in Williamson County and along Route 148, north and south of Route 13.
• Pamela Park – the southwest section of Marion as well as the Illinois State Regional Office Complex and the Veterans Administration Hospital.
• Benton – the city of Benton and areas west of Interstate 57, Rend Lake Marina and recreational areas.

“Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless,” said Brendan Fallis, president – Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. “Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so that it remains the most reliable in the nation.”

This network improvement is part of Verizon Wireless’ continual effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Missouri and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $60 billion since it was formed – $5.7 billion on average every year – to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. Nearly $1.3 billion of this investment has been spent in Illinois since 2000. In 2009, the company invested more than $166 million in its Illinois network.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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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