Verizon Wireless Completes $168 Million In Enhancements To Upstate New York Network In 2004

ROCHESTER, NY — Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, invested more than $168 million in new equipment and upgrades in 2004 to further enhance the company's network in the Upstate New York Region. The multi-million dollar annual investment included building new transmission sites, upgrading existing sites, and adding technology to improve call quality, increase coverage areas and allow a variety of advanced services such as wireless Internet access, text and video messaging, and other applications.

With additional major enhancements scheduled to continue through 2005, Verizon Wireless has invested nearly half a billion dollars over a five-year period in network upgrades in Upstate New York alone.

"This is another huge investment to better serve our customers," said John Palmer, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "We're not letting up in our mission to keep delivering the nation's most reliable wireless network We're working hard and investing millions every month to satisfy the ever-growing demand for the latest wireless technology."

Network upgrade highlights for 2004 include:

• Adding 59 new transmission sites across the region, increasing both coverage and capacity. Additional transmission sites are scheduled to be built at an even more aggressive pace in 2005.
• Increasing call-handling capacity at more than 400 transmission sites throughout the region to ensure the company stays ahead of growing customer demand for voice and data services like two-way text messaging, picture messaging, downloadable applications including ringtones and games, and wireless Internet access.
• Installing 80 additional generators, ensuring the vast majority of Verizon Wireless transmission sites have back-up power to keep the network operating during commercial power outages.

Test Man Ride-Along Program
To measure network performance, Verizon Wireless' team of real-life test men and women made more than 3.6 million calls and traveled more than 1.2 million miles nationwide in 2004, testing the Verizon Wireless network on the most frequently traveled roadways. The company's reputation for having the most reliable national wireless network is based on network studies performed by these real-life test men and women who inspired the company's national television advertising campaign.

The specially equipped Verizon Wireless vehicles they drive simultaneously test eight wireless providers, using a computerized program to generate phonically diverse "conversations" as well as data transmissions. The program allows Verizon Wireless to measure its own network performance and compare it to that of its competitors. Members of the media interested in setting up an interview or ride-along with a local member of the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women may contact John O'Malley at 585-321-7264 or via email at john.omalley@verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the most reliable nationwide wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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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