Demand Climbs For Wireless Voice, Multimedia And High-Speed Internet Access In Fresno County, California

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Wireless users in more Northern California locations are now experiencing expanded voice and broadband data coverage thanks to the addition of new cell sites from Verizon Wireless.

The new sites improve 3G coverage and call capacity for customers in and around:

• Coalinga, along interstate 5 to Highway 33, including Harris Ranch
• Fresno, along Shaw Avenue from Fowler Avenue to Cedar Avenue

The recent expansion adds to Verizon Wireless’ $4.6 billion dollar investment in California since 2000. Nationwide the company has invested nearly $45 billion since it was formed – $5.5 billion on average every year – to increase the coverage and capacity of its national wireless network and to add services like BroadbandAccess, V CAST, VZ Navigator(SM) and many more. The company now has the nation’s largest 3G network.

Verizon Wireless is the most widely used brand of service in wireless. The company now serves more than 68.7 million customers nationwide. In the second quarter of 2008, the company delivered nearly 70 billion text messages and completed 121 million downloads of music, videos, games, ringtones, and exclusive content, including 36.5 million video and music downloads.

“This consistent investment is a key reason Verizon Wireless has ranked first in customer loyalty in the industry in each of the last 15 quarters,*” said Rich Garwood, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Other examples of company leadership include being first to offer nationwide plans with unlimited calling and the only provider to offer a 30-day network “Test Drive” pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn’t satisfied and switches to another carrier.

Verizon Wireless’ reputation as the nation’s most reliable wireless network is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures. This has proven particularly valuable during natural disasters, like the Northern California wildfires, and other emergencies across the country. Standard Verizon Wireless network-reliability features include battery back-up power at all facilities as well as generators installed at all switching facilities and many cell site locations.

For more information about the company’s network coverage, Test Drive from Verizon Wireless or any of our 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.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 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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