Verizon Wireless Boosts Calling Capacity in Roanoke Valley and Hampton Roads, Va. with New Digital Systems

ROANOKE, VA — Verizon Wireless has completed work that more than doubles the number of calls its extensive wireless network can handle for Roanoke Valley customers.

The company has deployed additional digital call handling equipment in fifteen cell sites in and around the Roanoke Valley. The new capacity and coverage will mean improved service, sound quality and fewer blocked calls.

Verizon Wireless also announced it has placed a new digital cell site at Big Bethel to improve wireless service for customers in Hampton, Va., an area that is growing in wireless phone usage.

"With these significant wireless network upgrades, we're providing our local business and consumer customers the technology and capabilities they've been asking for," said Patrick Devlin, president of Verizon Wireless' Washington/Baltimore/Virginia Region.

The new cell site, as well as the additional call handling systems known as 'carriers,' use code division multiple access or CDMA digital wireless technology. This technology allows Verizon Wireless to use its radio spectrum more efficiently than any other provider, and enables the network to serve more customers at any given time. CDMA digital handsets transmit at much lower power levels than analog phones for significantly longer battery life and talk time, and can provide customers advanced wireless capabilities such as Internet access and text messaging.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28 million wireless voice and data 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), including Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless and PrimeCo Personal Communications. 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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