As Summer Begins, Verizon Wireless' Network Is Ready For Blackouts And Other Summer Emergencies

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — With the possibility of another summer of record-breaking electricity use, Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, is prepared to keep its wireless network up and running during power outages that can result from summer storms and increased electricity usage due to high temperatures and humidity.

"Verizon Wireless is committed to providing reliable wireless communication for our customers during the dog days of summer and any type of summer weather emergency," said Dick Lynch, executive vice president and chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless. "Our year-round focus on improving and maintaining our network ensures that we are prepared to operate when our customers are most in need."

The Verizon Wireless network is built for reliability in emergencies — such as power blackouts and extreme weather conditions — with redundancy capabilities in place to maintain services for customers when they need it most.

• All facilities have battery back-up power and for additional reliability, generators installed at all switching facilities, and many cell site locations.
• The company also owns a fleet of portable generators that can be deployed to provide emergency power during extended power outages to those cell sites without permanent generators.
• Verizon Wireless also operates "Cell on Wheels" (COW), which are fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites that enhance coverage and capacity in a given area. A COW can accommodate both voice and CDMA data services.

In addition, Verizon Communications' national wireline network of central office switching systems has back-up power in the form of batteries and back-up generators that automatically keep the switch running when commercial electrical power is lost. Verizon monitors traffic on the network around the clock, and can quickly manage calling and data traffic around problem areas. Much of Verizon's national inter-city network contains redundant and diverse routing so that customers can still make calls if one part of the network is damaged.

For tips on preparing an emergency wireless and home telecommunications plan, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2007/05/pr2007-05-31a.html. For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

(Editors: Information about Verizon Wireless' preparations for natural disasters, including network information, consumer tips and Verizon Wireless spokesperson information can be found online in the Verizon Wireless Emergency Information Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news.  

Video footage with helpful tips for consumers to prepare for hurricanes and other severe weather is available in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 60.7 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 66,000 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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