Ocean County, N.J., Residents To Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

LAKEWOOD and TUCKERTON, NJ — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Ocean County, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with two new cell sites. The new sites increase coverage and capacity along Route 9 in Lakewood and Tuckerton, Route 528 and Cedar Bridge Road in Lakewood, and on Dock Street and Stage Road in Tuckerton.

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services like BroadbandAccess and V CAST. The company spent more than $190 million in 2007 to enhance services and coverage in the Philadelphia Tri-State Region, bringing the total network investment in the region to more than $1 billion since 2000.

Verizon Wireless's high-speed third generation wireless broadband network has been enhanced with EV-DO Rev. A technology. This enhancement allows customers who use the company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, to interact with Web-based applications, download music over-the-air, and access to e-mail and the Internet at speeds that are eight to nine times faster than before. BroadbandAccess customers with Rev. A compatible devices can now expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps. V CAST brings video clips of TV shows, music on demand and other multimedia services to wireless phones over Verizon Wireless' high-speed EV-DO network.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the first quarter of 2008 as the company added 1.5 million net new customers and, for the 14th consecutive quarter, led the wireless industry in customer loyalty.

Verizon Wireless tests its network and those of its competitors to ensure its network remains the nation's most reliable. Nationally, the company's real-life test men and women drive 90 specially equipped vehicles almost one million miles annually on Interstate, U.S. and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets in high-population areas, based upon U.S. Census counts, to determine if voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. 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.

Editor's Note: Media representatives interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman can call Carla Reinas or Pam Boyd at 856-642-6226.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 67.2 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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