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JACKSONVILLE, FL — As football's big game approaches, Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable network, is preparing its network to be the day's real MVP. In addition to investing nearly $4 billion annually to enhance its national network, Verizon Wireless is continually adding new cell sites and network equipment to support major events across the country, including this weekend's game, ensuring football fans across the nation can celebrate all the great plays.
Permanent cell sites near Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium, location of this year's game, have been upgraded and mobile transmission sites have been installed to help handle the surge in voice and data calls expected before, during and after the game. Two COWs (cell sites on wheels) have been positioned near the stadium. They are equipped with eight voice channels, an expanded high-speed data channel and a tower that telescopes up to 120 feet and can handle hundreds of phone calls and data transmissions simultaneously.
In addition, teams of test men and women have been checking the Verizon Wireless network throughout Jacksonville and surrounding areas for weeks, making sure strong coverage blankets the region. During last year's big game in Houston, Verizon Wireless saw usage of its network increase significantly in the days leading up to the big game.
The Verizon Wireless network is tested by real-life technicians who inspired the company's national "Can you hear me now? Good!®" advertising campaign. They conduct more than 300,000 calls monthly on the Verizon Wireless network and other national wireless carriers' networks while traveling over 100,000 miles in specially-equipped vehicles.
Verizon Wireless invests more than $1 billion every 90 days in its nationwide network, to offer customers the most extensive wireless voice and data network in the United States. The network is built for reliability in emergencies, like power blackouts and storms, as well as for events that generate increased wireless usage, with redundancies in place to maintain services for customers when they need it most. The Verizon Wireless network is regularly counted on to handle increased customer calling at various major events across the country. Last year, COWs were deployed to handle the increase in wireless voice and data calls during the Democratic National Convention in Boston and the Republican National Convention in New York. Verizon Wireless also added COWs to provide increased capacity at NASCAR racing events at the Dover Downs International Speedway in Delaware, and at Churchill Downs in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby.
(EDITORS: Broadcast-quality B-Roll illustrating Verizon Wireless' network preparation around Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium, site of the big game, is available online. Log on to www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia to preview and request video segments.)
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 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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