Verizon Wireless Adds More Than 50 New Cell Sites Across Alabama In The First Half Of 2007

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, has crested the mid-year point after another aggressive quarter of network expansion and enhancement across Alabama. The wireless carrier deployed more than 50 new cell sites and network enhancements to improve coverage and capacity in several cities across Alabama during the first half of 2007. The most recent quarter investment includes aggressive capacity expansion in Birmingham, the state's largest market, and new cell sites in the eastern and northern parts of the state.

"Alabama's wireless customers increasingly continue to choose Verizon Wireless, because of the network quality and services we offer across the state," says Jeff Mango, president Verizon Wireless Alabama/Georgia region. "Wireless customers throughout Alabama continue to demand the best, most advanced wireless services for business and entertainment — and Verizon Wireless is committed to delivering it. We'll continue to focus on meeting our customers' growing wireless needs and delivering on our brand promise — the best, most reliable wireless network."

In the second quarter of 2007, new cell towers were added in the following Alabama cities:

• Anniston: A new site strengthened coverage to Alabama Highway 9 and to the town of White Plains in Calhoun County
• Tuscaloosa: A new site provides coverage along Highway 82 and extended PCS voice coverage into Bibb County
• Center Hill: A new site provides coverage to Northeast Lauderdale County, the community of Center Hill and along SR-64 and surrounding area between US-43 and SR-101
• Kellyton: A new site strengthened coverage to the Highway 280 areas of Alexander City
• Lexington: A new site strengthened coverage to Highway 101 and CR64 in the community of Lexington
• Midway: A new site provides coverage on Highway 82 between Batesville and Midway in northern Barbour County
• Montgomery: A new site provides coverage to the town of Ramer as well as SR94, Naftel Ramer Road and Hobbie Road
• Muscle Shoals: A new site strengthened coverage to the Trent Jones Golf Course and along Highway 184
• Pike Road: A new site strengthened coverage in the Cecil community and along Highway 110 between Montgomery and Union Springs
• Talladega: A new site provides coverage for southern Talladega City, and extends coverage along Highway 21 and Highway 77

The increased capacity added to existing towers in the following cities, allows for more call completions and greater call quality: Albertville, Cedar Bluff, Centre, Decatur, and Oneonta.

Verizon Wireless also completed a major expansion of its network in May covering two of the most heavily traveled routes in central Alabama. Customers traveling along I-65 from Birmingham to Montgomery including the cities of Jemison, Thorsby and Clanton now have continuous coverage along their route. In addition, those traveling on Highway 280 from Birmingham to Auburn are also benefiting from the expansion and experience enhanced coverage between the cities. Additional cities included in this network expansion were Talladega, Pell City, Sylacauga, Alexander City, and Childersburg.

The multi-million dollar expansion entailed installing high-tech wireless hardware and software in wireless transmission sites throughout the region. It is part of an ongoing network investment by Verizon Wireless that has totaled $40 billion nationally — more than $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. To date in 2007, the company has already invested more than $142 million across Alabama and Georgia.

Another development in the second quarter of 2007 for Verizon Wireless was the continued expansion of its broadband EV-DO 3G network service into several Alabama cities. Verizon Wireless' broadband network is based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A). Dothan, Auburn/Opelika, Tuskegee, and Anniston received this wide-area network technology in the second quarter. Customers in these cities can now access high-speed wireless Internet, e-mail, mobile music, and more. BroadbandAccess delivers typical user download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps. BroadbandAccess provides mobile workers access to their corporate information just as if they were attached via a high-speed wired connection, but with the freedom of true mobility. V CAST, also available on the EV-DO network, was the nation's first 3G wireless multimedia service for consumers. V CAST delivers short content on-demand, 3D games and music videos to V CAST-capable phones from leading and respected news and entertainment sources and other innovative content providers.

The company's most reliable wireless voice and data network claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women. These engineers conduct more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' and other national carriers' networks while traveling nearly one million miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned test vehicles.

Editor's Note/Not for Publication:
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 62.1 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 67,000 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.

####