Rensselaer County, New York Residents To Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

ALBANY, NY — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Rensselaer County, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site in Cropseyville. The new site increases coverage and capacity on Route 2 from Horton Road to Walter Road, Route 278 from Route 2 to Route 7, and Route 7 from Lakeshore Drive to Route 126.

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days), including nearly $130 million in Upstate New York in 2006 alone, to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion-on average $5 billion a year-into its national wireless network over the past six years as part of its commitment to offer customers the most reliable service available, including wireless data services such as Picture Messaging, TXT Messaging, and the company's exclusive V CAST service. V CAST brings video clips of TV shows, music on demand and other multimedia services to wireless phones over Verizon Wireless' high-speed EV-DO network. BroadbandAccess offers customers the nation's most reliable high-speed wireless broadband network, operating at average speeds between 400 kbps - 700 kbps.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the second quarter of 2006 as the company added 1.8 million net new customers. Verizon Wireless is the leader in wireless customer loyalty. In the second quarter of 2006, the company posted a record-breaking low customer turnover rate of 1.1%, well below the rate reported by the other major wireless carriers.

The company's "nation's most reliable wireless network" reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "Can you hear me now? Good.®" national advertising campaign. These engineers drive 95 specially equipped vehicles some 220,000 miles quarterly on Interstate, US and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 750,000 voice call attempts and more than 4 million data tests quarterly on the Verizon Wireless network and the networks of other carriers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: 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 John O'Malley at 585-321-7264.

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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