For Penn State University Students And Football Fans, Staying Connected Is Even Easier With Verizon Wireless' Network Upgrades

STATE COLLEGE, PA — Verizon Wireless has upgraded five cell sites in State College to meet the growing demands of Penn State freshman and returning students for the 2006—2007 school year. In addition, network improvements around Beaver Stadium will enable these students and other Nittany Lion fans to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive TXT, Picture and Video Messages, and download games and ring tones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls during home football games.

These improvements enhance network capacity on and around the Penn State campus, including locations such as Beaver Stadium and east along State Route 26 to the Nittany Mall.

"Keeping in touch with family and friends from home is of utmost importance to college students. Whether they're incoming freshmen or returning students, they are relying on their wireless phones to communicate," said Roger Tang, president—Ohio/Pennsylvania Region, Verizon Wireless. "We have upgraded our network around Penn State University so students can share the college experience with everyone back home, no matter how many miles separate them."

These recent improvements in State College are part of Verizon Wireless' continuous effort to increase coverage and augment the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Pennsylvania and across the country. Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion in the last six years-$5 billion on average every year since the company was formed-to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. The company has invested more than $81 million in the first half of 2006 in its Pennsylvania network.

Verizon Wireless' network enhancements also keep students connected to the latest news, games, information and music. Customers can browse content from V CAST, the nation's first wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers that enables them to view high-quality video clips from major news, sports and entertainment outlets, play 3D games and download rich multimedia content. Music lovers also can access V CAST Music, the world's most comprehensive, over-the-air mobile music download service. The V CAST Music catalog boasts more than 1.3 million songs from thousands of artists from top labels and independent providers.*

For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

*Must be in an EV-DO coverage area to access V CAST and to access V CAST Music over the air.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., 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 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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