Verizon Wireless Proposes To Expand Its Operations In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Adding 400 Jobs By Year-End

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Verizon Wireless today announced it is pursuing adding 400 new full-time customer service positions in Albuquerque by year-end 2006 to stay ahead of continued customer demand for its wireless products and services. These plans, combined with more than 300 full-time technical support positions announced last year, would bring Verizon Wireless' employment in the state in 2006 to more than 800 in a variety of jobs including customer service, technical support, sales, administration and network operations and engineering.

Verizon Wireless' proposed job growth in New Mexico reflects the rapid growth at the company, which added more than 1,200 customer service positions in the U.S. last year alone. The company employs more than 16,000 customer service representatives at 26 call centers in the U.S.

Plans call for a $20 million facility in the Southwest Mesa area that would house the company's Wireless Data Technical Support Center, which provides technical service support to customers using advanced data products, as well as a new Customer Service Call Center that would serve customers in the western United States. When complete, the structure will be able to accommodate a planned occupancy of up to 1,400 positions.

Verizon Wireless' expansion plans, developed in cooperation with the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque Economic Development are contingent upon the final approval of tax savings authorized through industrial revenue bonds under consideration by the Bernalillo County Commission.

"Bernalillo County, with the Commissioners' approval, plans to issue $20 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds to partner with Verizon Wireless on this important economic development project that will bring a large number of quality jobs to the community, further securing our economic future," said Alan B. Armijo, Bernalillo County Commission Chair. "We are impressed by the professionalism of the company and the excellent salary and benefit package Verizon Wireless is planning to offer to future employees."

"We are thrilled with Verizon Wireless' interest in Albuquerque and their focus on the west side because of our goal to develop and create good jobs in that area of town. Our commitment to sustainable economic development emphasizes the reuse of existing buildings, which they are planning to do. Their decision and subsequent job creation would provide a tremendous boost to the economy of Albuquerque and to the west side," said Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez.

Albuquerque Economic Development Chairman of the Board Carolyn Monroe said, "The company's selection of this location will have a transformational effect on the development of West Central and the Southwest Mesa. Albuquerque's west side has seen strong housing growth over the years but, so far, only a few major employers have operations there. Verizon Wireless recognizes the attractiveness of locating within that growing area and how it will contribute to its long-term success. We expect that others will follow."

"We have been very impressed with the leadership of the city of Albuquerque and the county of Bernalillo and the favorable business environment they have created through their incentives packages. This, along with the high caliber local talent pool and the community's quality of life, has made it feasible for Verizon Wireless to look at expanding our operations here," said Tony Heyman, regional president, Verizon Wireless. "We look forward to finalizing our Albuquerque plans. Verizon Wireless' investment in the state, including the proposed addition of new jobs, demonstrates our commitment to our customers and to New Mexico."

As the leader in customer loyalty with the lowest customer turnover rate among major U.S. providers, Verizon Wireless is committed to continuing to provide the very best wireless customer experience in the U.S. Verizon Wireless leads the wireless industry in customer satisfaction, ranking at the top of more third-party customer surveys in 2005 than any other single national wireless carrier.

Since 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $150 million to expand and enhance its wireless voice and data network in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, to provide customers with the best possible wireless experience. Each year, Verizon Wireless invests on average about a billion dollars every 90 days in its national network, constantly improving and expanding what already is the most reliable nationwide wireless network in the United States.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 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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