Verizon Wireless New England Network Investment Surpasses $2.5 Billion Milestone

WILMINGTON, MA — Verizon Wireless today announced the completion of $106 million in wireless network enhancements across New England during the first six months of 2009, increasing the company's regional network investment to more than $2.5 billion since 2000.

2009 Regional Milestones

• Activated new voice and 3G data cell sites across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
• Rebanded many existing cell sites to different cellular frequencies for increased coverage
• Completed the integration of the non-divested portion of the legacy Unicel wireless network, resulting in an additional 100 new 3G cell sites in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts
• Began construction and deployment of a 'test' 4G network in Boston consisting of 10 LTE 4G cell sites running on the 700 MHz spectrum for internal research and development; the company expects to commercially launch LTE 4G networks in up to 30 markets in 2010, covering 100 million people
• Deployed additional emergency power equipment to cell sites — more than 90% of Verizon Wireless' cell sites throughout New England have both backup batteries and permanent generators designed to maintain the company's wireless network during the loss of commercial power

Ongoing Investment

• Expanded its voice and 3G mobile broadband network across New England
• Spent $50 billion nationally during the past nine years — an average of $5.5 billion each year — on improvements to its nationwide network
• Continued to test the quality of the company's and competitors' networks using a team of real-life test men and test women

View from Verizon Wireless
"Verizon Wireless' leading 3G network continues to expand across New England," said Ken Dixon, president of Verizon Wireless' New England Region. "This investment of another $100 million dollars further increases the 3G advantage our customers enjoy at home and on vacation. Verizon Wireless is New England's 3G leader."

"We continue to expand the most comprehensive 3G coverage of any wireless carrier in New England," said Richard Enright, director for Network System Performance for Verizon Wireless. "We've invested two and a half billion dollars into our New England network in the last nine years, believing that even the most sophisticated cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on."

3G Mobile Broadband Customer Benefits
Verizon Wireless' 3G high-speed mobile broadband network keeps customers connected, empowering customers using notebook computers or smartphones to:

• Download and use hundreds of cool apps
• Browse the Web faster with quicker page loading times (versus non-3G networks)
• Quickly download and play music
• Watch streaming video
• Send e-mails with attachments
• Download and play 3D games
• Rapidly share files

2009 Second Quarter National Highlights

• Added 1.1 million net new customers
• Reported the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the wireless industry for the 19th consecutive quarter

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone. For more information, visit 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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