Seattle Fans Bound For Detroit Know The Verizon Wireless Network Will Keep Them Connected On Game Day

SEATTLE, WA — With Seattle on their way to professional football's championship game, fans are scrambling for tickets to the big show. Can they get tickets? Where will they stay? These are all pressing questions — but there's one thing they can count on — if they are Verizon Wireless customers they can be sure the nation's most reliable wireless network is ready for the big crowds headed to Detroit on game day. In fact, during the recent championship game in Seattle the company saw a 148 percent increase in wireless usage in the area of the football stadium compared to a regular season game. Usage was 650 percent above a non-game Sunday.

In anticipation of more than 100,000 visitors, Verizon Wireless' network has its game face on and is ready to handle the anticipated increase in calls as fans arrive in Detroit, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently. To enhance regular coverage, the company recently activated five new permanent cell sites and installed additional equipment on all existing cell sites in downtown Detroit. In addition, Verizon Wireless is deploying two COWs (Cells on Wheels) and one COLT (Cells on Light Truck)--fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites designed to enhance wireless capacity in a given area-around Ford Field during the week of the game.

These network enhancements will improve Verizon Wireless' digital capacity in and around Ford Field by 300 percent, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently. The improvements also will enable Verizon Wireless customers to experience fewer dropped calls and clearer reception while talking on their wireless phones, sending TXT and Picture Messages, viewing streaming video or downloading games and ringtones.

"We worked hard to ensure that our customers who are traveling to Detroit can enjoy the same reliable service they have come to expect from Verizon Wireless when home in Seattle," said Kelley Kurtzman, president Pacific Northwest Region, Verizon Wireless.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

Editor's Note: For an on-site tour of a COW or COLT, to take a photo or to schedule an interview with a Verizon Wireless network expert, please call Georgia Taylor at 206-940-0385.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 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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