Wireless Phone Users In Kankakee County, Illinois Now Experience Even Clearer Reception and Fewer Dropped Calls

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Verizon Wireless has activated two new cell sites in the communities of St. Anne and Herscher in Kankakee County in Illinois that expand network coverage and increase capacity, enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive e-mail and TXT, Picture and Video Messages, and download games and ring tones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

The new cell sites improve Verizon Wireless' voice and data network in the following areas:

• The community of Sugar Island and north to East 500 South Road, south to County Road 300 North, west to U.S. Route 45 and east to Illinois Route 1, including the town of St. Anne.
• The town of Herscher and north to Illinois Route 115, south to County Roads 600 East and 3000 North, west to County Road 200 East and east to County Road 6000 West.

Additionally, the cell sites improve signal penetration into area buildings.

"This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said T.J. Fox, president—Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless.

Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry. During the second quarter of 2006, only 1.1 percent of its customers disconnected their service, which is well below the industry average.

"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fox said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."

The new cell sites in Kankakee County are part of Verizon Wireless' continuous effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Illinois 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. More than $151 million of this investment was spent in Illinois in 2005.

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 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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