Fresno, California, Wireless Users Benefit From Verizon Wireless' Enhancements To Local Voice And Data Network

FRESNO, CA — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents and businesses in the area, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network*, expanded the capabilities of 14 cell sites in Fresno last year. The enhancements increase the network's voice and data capacity, enabling more simultaneous calls so the company can stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless services in the community.

"Our continual network investment has been key to maintaining customer loyalty," said Rich Garwood, Northern California/Nevada region president. "Verizon Wireless has the highest customer loyalty of any national wireless carrier because we focus on what consumers care about the most — being able to complete their calls." Verizon Wireless is the nation's wireless leader in customer loyalty, setting industry records for the lowest churn — or turnover — rate.**

Verizon Wireless invested $740 million in the company's wireless network throughout California in 2005. In Northern California, the investment enabled the company to expand its voice and data network and increase the network's call capacity by 40 percent. The company has invested nearly $4 billion in its California network since 2000. New projects are already underway.

Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion in the last six years — $5 billion on average every year since 2000 when the company was formed — to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services.

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.  

*The company's 'most reliable network' claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "Can you hear me now? Good!" national advertising campaign. These engineers conduct more than 300,000 call attempts monthly on Verizon Wireless' and other national carriers' networks while traveling more than 100,000 miles a month in specially-equipped, company test vehicles.

**Loyalty claims based upon publicly available churn (customer turnover) figures.

EDITOR'S NOTES:
For network cell site images go to www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

Test Man/Woman Ride-Along Program
Specially equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test seven wireless providers, using a computerized program to generate phonically diverse "conversations" as well as data transmissions. Members of the media who are interested in setting up an interview ride-along with a local member of the Verizon Wireless team of real-life test men and women, are invited to contact Heidi Flato at 925-279-6545.

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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