Verizon Wireless Expands Its Network And Rolls Out High Speed Broadband Service In Queens, NY

ORANGEBURG, NY — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for residents and commuters in Queens, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with four new cell sites and last week began offering BroadbandAccess, the fastest wide-area wireless Internet access service available in the nation, at LaGuardia and JFK International Airports and in other parts of the borough.

As a result of the new cell sites, network coverage and capacity have been improved in the following areas:

• In Sunnyside on Route 25A from Honeywell Street to 48th Street and on Route 25 from 32nd to 53rd Streets.
• In Jamaica on Guy Brewer Road from 87th to 109th Roads, and on Routes 25, 24, Liberty Street and South Road from 145th to 165th Streets.
• In South Flushing on Roosevelt Avenue from Union Avenue to 149th Street and on Sanford Avenue from Old Lane to 162nd Street.
• On Route 25 from 192nd to 213th Streets and on a portion of Francis Lewis Boulevard.

The new cell sites are 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, like two-way TXT Messaging, Picture Messaging and high-speed Internet access. Verizon Wireless spends $1 billion every 90 days to expand and upgrade its nationwide wireless network.

BroadbandAccess operates on the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network which now is available in 32 markets across the country. Customers using the service can connect via laptop to the Internet, corporate intranet and email at speeds of 300-500 kilobits per second (kbps). The same high-speed service will be available on select wireless handsets enabling VCAST multimedia services on February 1, 2005.

"Customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us because they want wireless service they can depend on," said Charles Hand, president of Verizon Wireless' New York Metro area. "The company's continued investment in its premier wireless network and our strong customer service focus are the drivers behind our industry-leading growth."

The company's investment in its wireless network also is part of Verizon Wireless' commitment to offer customers the most reliable service available in the nation. The company's 'most reliable network' claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women who inspired the company's national advertising campaign. The engineers conduct more than 300,000 call attempts monthly on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks while traveling over 100,000 miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles.*

*Test Man Ride-Along Program
Specially-equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the networks of six wireless providers, using a mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations." If you are interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact David Samberg at 845-365-7212.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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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