Verizon Wireless High-Speed Broadband Network Now Available In Shreveport And Bossier City, Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, LA — Verizon Wireless has launched its high-speed wireless broadband network in Northwest Louisiana to better serve the concentration of tech-savvy residents, businesses and visitors. The expansion of the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network in Shreveport, Bossier City and the surrounding area enables both its BroadbandAccess and V CAST services. Local Verizon Wireless customers now have access to the latest high-speed business and entertainment services on their wireless phones, laptop computers and other wireless devices.

The expansion is part of an aggressive ongoing network investment by Verizon Wireless costing $5 billion annually since 2000. The company is committed to providing its customers with the most reliable network and recently activated a new cell site in southwest Shreveport to improve service between Colquitt Road, Woolworth Road and Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Expressway.

Residents in Shreveport, Bossier City and Benton will benefit from the EV-DO expansion, as well as those serving at Barksdale Air Force Base. The wireless broadband network is also available in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and the Northshore.

"From manufacturing to healthcare to hospitality and entertainment, all sectors of business in Northwest Louisiana use technology to improve and grow. Likewise, we continue to devote our resources to grow and better serve our customers with the latest technology," said Luis M. Cruz, region president for Verizon Wireless. "Local residents can now enjoy the benefits of our investment through the newest wireless services, such as BroadbandAccess and V CAST Music.

The Shreveport-Bossier City launch involved installing high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the region and extends the Verizon Wireless EV-DO network to the area. The coverage area extends from north of the intersection of State Highway 3 and Old Plain Dealing Road in Benton to the intersection of Interstate 49 and the Caddo-DeSoto Parish boundary. The expansion runs along Interstate 20 from Jefferson Paige Road to Chandler Road and its southeastern edge reaches to the intersection of State Highway 1 and Gayles-Redbluff Road.

BroadbandAccess allows customers to connect wirelessly to the Internet, download e-mail and applications and log into their corporate servers via their laptop at broadband speeds. The technology provides mobile workers full access, productivity and security, just as if they were at their desks and attached via a high-speed wired connection, but with the freedom of true mobility.

With average connection speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), users can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment - the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file - in about 20 seconds.

The Verizon Wireless V CAST service gives customers access to short video content, downloadable music, and cutting-edge 3D games on their mobile phones. V CAST provides current news, weather, sports and entertainment programming on demand. And with access to more than 1.4 million songs, music lovers with a V CAST Music-enabled phone can download and play their favorite songs — all while on-the-go.

Customers in Shreveport and Bossier City can see a demonstration of the new services available by visiting a local Verizon Wireless store at:

• Verizon Wireless Communications Store, 7230 Youree Drive, Shreveport, 318-798-0272
• Verizon Wireless Communications Store, 2955 East Texas Street, Bossier City, 318-549-1359
• Verizon Wireless at Circuit City, 8100 Jump Run Road, Shreveport, 318-798-9697

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 57 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 60,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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