Verizon Wireless Made Extensive Statewide Expansions In Georgia Of Nation's Most Reliable Network In 2006

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, expanded its Georgia network with multiple new cell sites and network enhancements throughout the state to close out 2006. During the year, Verizon Wireless added more than 70 new cell sites across the state and continued the expansion of its' Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network throughout Atlanta and into Savannah, Macon, Warner Robins, Columbus, Augusta and Albany. In addition, Verizon Wireless opened five new company-owned stores in Georgia in 2006.

"Georgia's wireless customers increasingly continue to choose Verizon Wireless, because of the network quality and services we offer across the state. As evidence of that, minutes of use by Verizon Wireless customers in Georgia increased more than 38% over 2005," says Jeff Mango, President Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama Region. "Wireless customers throughout Georgia continue to demand the best wireless experience and we're committed to delivering it. Our focus is on meeting our customers' growing wireless needs by meeting our brand promise of the best, most reliable wireless network."

During the last quarter, network coverage and capacity was enhanced in areas including Dawson, Columbus, Oglethorpe, Savannah, Douglas, Albany, Watkinsville, Lake Lanier, Clayton, Gwinnett County, Fitzgerald, McDonough and Brunswick.

In addition during the last quarter of the year, new cell towers were added in many Georgia cities, including but not limited to:

• Madras/Newnan - Enhanced coverage along Hwy 29 and Cedar Creek Road near the town of Madras
• Augusta - Provides increased call capacity to the downtown Augusta area and improves in-building coverage for both St. Joseph and Medical College of Georgia hospitals
• Dublin - Expands local wireless capacity, especially in the downtown Dublin area
• Macon - Expands wireless capacity along Highway 49 in the northeastern section of the Macon metro area and a second site provides coverage along Lake Joy Road and South Houston Lake Road
• Duluth - Enhanced coverage for the traffic east of I-85 along Pleasant Hill Rd, Club Drive and Sweetwater Rd.
• Winder - Provides coverage between Jefferson and Winder along Hwy 11
• Jefferson - Provides coverage along Hwy 11 near Hope Haven and Jackson Trail Roads
• Dawsonville - Enhanced coverage in Amicalola Falls State Park and along Hwy 52
• Washington - Provides capacity relief for the existing Washington site along Hwy 44
• Junction City - Provides coverage east of Columbus along SR 96 in the town of Junction City between Talbotton and Howard, GA
• Calhoun - Enhanced coverage near Highway 75 and Highway 53
• Atlanta - Enhanced coverage along Camp Creek Parkway and to the GA International Convention Center
• Lawrenceville - Provides coverage along the Sugarloaf Parkway/Hwy 29 intersection
• Newnan - Enhanced coverage along Hwy 27A northeast of Newnan and south of Whitesburg, near the town of Sargent.
• Columbus - Provides better in-building coverage along US 27 in Columbus and increased capacity to Columbus Mall
• Griffin - Provides better coverage along US 19 between Hampton and Griffin
• Albany - Provides coverage in the Albany area and at the intersection of Hwy 62 and Hwy 91 in Dougherty County 
• The Rock - Provides coverage along SR 36 between Thomaston and Barnesville.

A major development in 2006 for Verizon Wireless was the continued expansion of the broadband EV-DO 3G network service throughout metro Atlanta, making the city essentially a 3,000 square mile "mega hot spot," extending from Gainesville to Griffin and into several new markets: Savannah, Macon, Warner Robins, Columbus, Augusta, Albany, Perry, Milledgeville, and Forsyth. BroadbandAccess delivers typical user download 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, was the nation's first 3G wireless multimedia service for consumers. V CAST delivers 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.

Verizon Wireless has invested $35 billion in the last seven 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. In Georgia and Alabama, Verizon Wireless invested more than $200 million in network enhancements and expansion to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless products and services in this area.

"We are committed to providing the best service to our customers no matter when and where they need service," says Mango. "The developments and investments we undertook in 2006 are in direct response to the remarkable growth in the demand for our wireless service. We look forward to an even more exciting 2007."

The company's most reliable wireless network claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women who inspired the company's national advertising campaign. These engineers conduct more than 750,000 voice call attempts and 4 million data tests quarterly on Verizon Wireless' and other national carriers' networks while traveling nearly 220,000 miles in specially equipped, company owned test vehicles.

Editor's Note/Not for Publication: 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 operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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