Charlotte, North Carolina Residents To Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

CHARLOTTE, NC — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Charlotte, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site in Mecklenburg County. Verizon Wireless customers will immediately experience enhanced wireless coverage in the following areas:

• Along Mount Holly Huntersville Road
• Along Beatties Ford Road and Hornets Nest Park
• Along the future I-485

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. The company has invested more than $44 billion nationwide since 2000 to increase coverage and capacity and to offer customers the most reliable service available in the nation.

"Charlotte is a vital area with dynamic, tech-savvy business people, students, visitors and residents who want to stay connected," said Jerry Fountain, president of the Carolinas/Tennessee region of Verizon Wireless. "The aggressive expansion of Verizon Wireless' network in and around Charlotte will ensure our customers have access to the very latest in wireless technology."

Services include wireless data services such as picture messaging, text messaging, V CAST and V CAST Music and BroadbandAccess, the company's high-speed wireless broadband network geared toward mobile professionals and business customers. It provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second (mbps), and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2007 as the company added 2 million net new customers. Verizon Wireless is the leader in wireless customer loyalty*, reporting the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the industry -- 1.2% in the fourth quarter -- for the 13th consecutive quarter.

The company's 'nation's most reliable wireless network' reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country. These engineers drive 91 specially equipped vehicles over one million miles on average each quarter on Interstate, US and state highways, as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

Last year, Verizon Wireless introduced its 30-day Test Drive an industry first that lets customers experience its network virtually risk-free for 30 days. If customers are not satisfied with their experience and take their number to another carrier, Verizon Wireless will refund their money for calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes.

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.

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

EDITORS NOTE: Test Man Ride-Along Program for the News Media
Specially equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the Verizon Wireless network as well as the networks of as many as seven other wireless providers, using a mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations." If one of your reporters is interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your locally-based Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Carly Culbertson.

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.

####