Verizon Wireless Expands Its Network In Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, PA — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for residents and commuters in Philadelphia County, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with a new cell site in Queen Village. The new site increases coverage and capacity south of Old City, and from Penn's Landing to South Street.

This expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days) to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services like two-way TXT, Picture and Video Messaging and V CAST, which brings full-length songs, TV and other multimedia services to wireless phones over the company's high speed broadband wireless network. In the Philadelphia Tri-State Region, the company invested more than $200 million last year and has invested more than $700 million since 2000 to enhance and expand its wireless network.

Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during 2005 as the company set new records for customer growth. For the year, the company added 7.5 million net new customers, and more than 2 million net customer additions during the fourth quarter alone, an industry record. Verizon Wireless also maintained its position as the nation's wireless leader in customer loyalty (highest customer retention and lowest turnover rate). In the fourth quarter of 2005, the company posted a churn rate of 1.2%, well below the rate reported by the other national wireless carriers for the quarter.

The company's investment in its Philadelphia Tri-State Region wireless network, part of more than $30 billion invested nationally over the last six years, reflects its commitment to offer customers the most reliable wireless service available. The company's 'most reliable network' claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the company's national advertising campaign. These engineers conduct more than 3.6 million call attempts yearly on Verizon Wireless' and other national carriers' networks while traveling over 1.2 million miles a year in specially equipped, company-owned test vehicles.

*Editor's Note - Test Man Ride-Along Program for the Media
Specially-equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the networks of six wireless providers using a mobile laptop computer to generate calls. 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 Carly Irwin at 215-790-4342.

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 receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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