Verizon Wireless Has Big First Quarter Of 2006 In Georgia With Network And Retail Expansion

ALPHARETTA, GA — In its ongoing effort to provide the best wireless service in Georgia, Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has again expanded its Georgia presence over the first quarter of 2006 with network enhancements in 23 cities, including the expansion of the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network to additional metro Atlanta locations. During the first quarter, the company also opened six new retail stores. Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued to be unprecedented heading into 2006 as the company added an industry record 2.0 million net new customers in Q4 2005, more than any other U.S. wireless provider. Verizon Wireless also continues to post the lowest customer churn rate — 1.2% - among national carriers and ranked on top in Georgia for "highest call quality" according to the most recent JD Power report.

As a result of Verizon Wireless' continued commitment to provide the best network in Georgia, network coverage and capacity have been enhanced in the following areas:

• Savannah
• Atlanta (including increased capacity in Decatur area)
• Marietta (this new cell site offers high speed EV-DO service and improves coverage in Dobbins AFB and along Hwy 5 and Hwy 360)
• Franklin (upgrades to improve capacity and coverage along Hwy 100)
• Cumming (expansion of EV-DO network)
• Thomaston (capacity improvement in Thomaston)
• Athens (network capacity added to the towns of Farmington, Apalachee, and Hwy 15 between Watkinsville and Greensboro)
• Augusta (network capacity added for the Augusta area and for the Masters Golf Tournament)
• Milledgeville (this new cell site improves coverage between Sandersville, Tennille and Milledgeville)
• Faceville (this new cell site provides coverage in the Faceville area, south of Bainbridge and the SE side of Lake Seminole)
• Screven
• Chatsworth
• Newnan (this new cell cite improves coverage in north Newnan)
• Griffin
• Blakely
• Hentown
• Colquit
• Brinson
• Blairsville
• Mt. Pleasant
• Macon (provides increased coverage for the Macon Mall)
• Carrollton (this new cell site improves coverage to West GA College and southwest areas of the city)
• Clayton (this new cell site improves coverage along US 441 between Clayton and Tallulah Falls)

Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion - on average $5 billion every year - since the company was formed six years ago to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new capabilities. In Georgia and Alabama in 2005 alone, Verizon Wireless invested more than $200 million in network enhancements to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless products and services in this area, including BroadbandAccess, the company's high speed wireless network.

BroadbandAccess, available to more than 150 million Americans, is the most robust high-speed wireless broadband network in the country with typical user speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps). BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers access to their corporate information just as if they were attached via a high-speed wired connection, but with the freedom of true mobility. V CAST, also available on the EV-DO network, is the nation's first wireless multimedia service for consumers. V CAST delivers crystal clear short content on-demand, 3D games and music videos to V CAST capable phones from leading and respected news and entertainment sources and other innovative content providers.

In addition to the network investments, Verizon Wireless Georgia hosted grand openings for six new stores already in 2006. Retail outlets have recently opened in Dunwoody, Cartersville, Douglasville, Pooler, Aiken, SC and Augusta. Each store opening included community elements such as donations to local domestic violence shelters and child fingerprinting sessions, co-hosted with local law enforcement, in store. There are additional store openings planned for the second quarter.

"As our customer base continues to grow rapidly across the state of Georgia, it's essential that the Verizon Wireless retail and network presence keep pace with that growth in order to deliver a convenient, superior customer experience," said Jim McGean, Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama region president. "This expansion of both our retail base and our network continues Verizon Wireless' commitment to exceeding customer expectations, providing innovative products and services and delivering the nation's best, most reliable wireless network. Customers will continue to choose Verizon Wireless because we provide wireless service and options they can depend on wherever they are in Georgia."

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 over 100,000 miles a month in specially equipped company-owned test vehicles. If you are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Caran Smith at (678) 339-4891 or caran.smith@verizonwireless.com.

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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