Verizon Wireless Invests Nearly $33.6 Million In 2007 To Enhance Iowa Network

DES MOINES, IA — Verizon Wireless announced today it invested nearly $33.6 million in 2007 to enhance its network in Iowa. The enhancements included building new — and upgrading existing — cell sites, increasing coverage area, expanding its high-speed wireless broadband network to many new markets, and improving the existing wireless broadband network speeds.

"In 2008 we will continue perfecting our network so that our customers can depend on us every time they pick up their wireless phones," said Marni Walden, president — Midwest region, Verizon Wireless. "Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless."

Verizon Wireless has invested $202.5 million over the past seven years on improvements to its network in Iowa, including the following upgrades made in 2007:

• Twenty-six new cell sites were activated statewide to improve network coverage and capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; download music, games and ringtones; and view high-quality videos while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
• Equipment on 69 existing cell sites throughout the state was upgraded, which further improved network capacity.
• Thirty permanent backup generators were installed at Iowa cell sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.
• The company expanded its high-speed wireless broadband network to 74 cell sites across Iowa including Des Moines and Ames. With the upgraded network, Verizon Wireless customers in these communities, as well as communities in Eastern Iowa, are enjoying two prime services:
• BroadbandAccess, the enhanced high-speed wireless service that equips Verizon Wireless' business customers with a truly untethered mobile office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, e-mail, and critical business information residing behind their companies' firewalls; and
• V CAST, a consumer-oriented multimedia service that gives customers access to the most comprehensive selection of downloadable music, high-quality videos and the coolest 3D games found anywhere.
• The company also enhanced its existing broadband network in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport/Bettendorf, Dubuque, and Waterloo/Cedar Falls, with faster upload and download speeds by adding Revision A technology to its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) broadband network.
• In these broadband markets in Central and Eastern Iowa, Verizon Wireless business customers, residents and visitors can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps. That means they can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file — in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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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