Expanded High-Speed Digital Wireless Service Benefits For Gadsden, Alabama Residents

BIRMINGHAM, AL — To provide the best wireless service for businesses, residents and visitors in Etowah County, Alabama, Verizon Wireless has expanded its digital network here by constructing a new advanced digital cell site in Gadsden.

The new site processes both voice calls and wireless data traffic along US Highway 431 and in the vicinity of the Goodyear manufacturing facility as well as in the growing retail area surrounding Coosa Towne Center - enabling more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive TXT Messages and Picture Messages, and download games and Ring Tones while enjoying enhanced wireless service.

This aggressive network investment — now totaling more than $235 million in Alabama since 2003 and in excess of $35 billion nationally during the past seven years — ensures that Verizon Wireless will continue to stay ahead of growing demand for wireless voice and data services. To date in 2006, the company has invested more than $160 million to enhance and expand its network across Alabama and Georgia.

"Our continuous investment in northeast Alabama 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, wherever they are in the state," said Jim McGean, president—Alabama/Georgia Region, Verizon Wireless.

This growth in Alabama demonstrates the increasing demand for Verizon Wireless services. In the third quarter of this year, the company again led the industry with the addition of 1.9 million net new customers and the highest customer loyalty measurement with a record total churn rate of 1.2%.

"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," McGean 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 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 750,000 voice call attempts and more than 4 million data tests quarterly on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks while traveling approximately 220,000 miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles. 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 Caran Smith at 678-339-4891 or caran.smith@verizonwireless.com.  

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, NJ, 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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