Verizon Wireless Expands Its Network In Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri

ST. LOUIS, MO — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service throughout metropolitan St. Louis, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with nine new cell sites. The new cell sites improve network coverage and capacity in the following Missouri and Illinois areas:

In Missouri

• Near Jamieson and Interstate 44 in southwest St. Louis City
• West of the train station in downtown Kirkwood
• On the west end of the Washington University campus in St. Louis
• Near the S. Breese and Interstate 94 intersection just south of Cottleville
• Along the Mexico and Salt Lick roads intersection south of Interstate 70 in St. Peters
• Near the Mastercard headquarters in the Winghaven area of O'Fallon

In Illinois

• Along Elm and Behrens Road in O'Fallon
• Along Center Grove Road and Route 159 in Glen Carbon
• Along Laurel Street in Millstadt

The network improvements were part of a $91 million investment in 2004 to improve the company's wireless network in the Kansas/Missouri Region.

"These improvements ensure that our customers in the metropolitan St. Louis area have superior coverage," said Mark Crumpton, president—Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. "During the past four years, we have invested more than $16 billion in our national network. We are committed to offering customers the most extensive and reliable wireless voice and data network in the United States."

The addition of these new cell sites is part of Verizon Wireless' aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year to stay ahead of the growing demand in the St. Louis area for the company's voice and data services, such as TXT Messaging, Picture Messaging, NationalAccess wireless Internet access and Get It Now® ring tones, games, productivity applications and more.

As consumer demand for Verizon Wireless services continued throughout 2004, the company added a record 1.7 million new customers, more than any other wireless provider, and reached an all-time industry record for the second consecutive quarter. In September 2004, Verizon Wireless announced the company served 42.1 million customers nationwide.

"Customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us because they know they'll get wireless service they can depend on," said Crumpton. "The company's continued investment in its premier wireless network and its strong focus on customer service are the drivers behind the 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 today. The company's 'most reliable network' claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and women who inspired the company's national advertising campaign. These test men and women are Verizon Wireless engineers who make more than 300,000 test calls monthly on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks while they travel more than 100,000 miles nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned test vehicles.

Test Man Ride-Along Program for the News Media
Specially-equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the networks of as many as eight 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 locally based Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Cheryl Bini Armbrecht at 314-920-4922.

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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