Verizon Wireless Is Having A COW At Laconia, New Hampshire, 'Bike Week'

WOBURN, MA — Verizon Wireless is beefing up its network capacity during Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 10th — 18th, by activating a temporary cell site in Weirs Beach.

The Cell on Wheels (or COW) is a fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell site that enhances wireless capacity, allowing more customers to use their wireless handsets concurrently to make calls, send and receive TXT and Picture Messages, and download games and ring tones. Verizon Wireless maintains a fleet of the self-powered transmitters that can be rolled into just about any location to provide wireless network support during highly populated events, or when weather disasters such as a hurricane or major flood, stimulate significantly increased wireless voice and data usage.

"Nearly 500,000 individuals and motorcycles will converge on Weirs Beach during 'bike week', creating a significant surge in wireless activity," said Richard Enright, director of Network Operations for Verizon Wireless New England. "The addition of a mobile COW will increase network capacity to handle the anticipated rise of wireless voice and data traffic during the nine-day event."

Quick Facts on the Cell on Wheels (COW)

• The temporary cell site is equivalent to the highest capacity stationary site presently in the Verizon Wireless network, able to process thousands of calls every hour.
• The trucks are specially equipped with $500,000 in sophisticated mobile equipment.
• The 25,000 lb. vehicle features a 55 ft. retractable mast. In the interest of emergency preparedness, the vehicle is fully self-contained with equipment, fuel, electrical generators, food, water, cots, etc.

The temporary cell site is part of Verizon Wireless' commitment to enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network, while also maintaining preparedness for any potential weather or related emergency. Today, about 90 percent of the company's cell sites in hurricane-prone regions also have on-site back-up generators, which are routinely tested to insure readiness when local electrical power is suddenly unavailable.

Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion in the last six years — $5 billion on average every year since the company was formed — to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Across New England, the company invested $300M last year for its regional wireless network build-out.

More information about Laconia Motorcycle Week held from June 10th -18th in Weirs Beach (just outside of Laconia, NH) can be found at: http://www.laconiamcweek.com/index.htm.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, 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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