Verizon Wireless Completes $68.2 Million Network Enhancement In South Carolina During First Half of 2007

GREENVILLE, SC — Verizon Wireless announced today that it spent 68.2 million to enhance services and coverage throughout South Carolina in the first six months of 2007, bringing the network investment here to more than $537 million since 2000. The company's ongoing network investment now totals more than $40 billion nationally since the company was formed.

Major areas of improvement across South Carolina this year include:

• Enhanced Coverage in the popular vacation destinations of Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and areas along Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand.
• Several new cell sites have been built in the Upstate along the Interstate 85 corridor, helping to meet the growing needs of burgeoning businesses and travelers along this busy highway.
• Enhanced coverage in South Carolina's Midlands, in the smaller metro areas surrounding the city of Columbia such as Lexington, Irmo, Camden and Lugoff.

The network enhancement enables more Verizon Wireless customers to use their wireless phones to make calls; send and receive e-mails and text, picture and video messages; and download games and Ringtones while enjoying superior wireless service.

Part of this investment has been toward the statewide activation of its high-speed Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network. Verizon Wireless' 3G high-speed BroadbandAccess Network is currently available in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg.

"South Carolina has some of the top markets in the country for wireless usage per capita, so it is imperative that we continuously enhance our network capabilities to keep up with the state's rising demand," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless — Carolinas/Tennessee Region president.

Network tests in the first half of 2007 indicate that the investment to further boost network strength is working for customers. This testing is performed by teams of technicians/engineers (who serve as the inspiration for the famous TV Test Man ad campaign) who have traveled approximately 12,000 miles across the state so far this year. The test teams ride in special vehicles loaded with computers, wireless phones and other equipment to measure and ensure strength and reliability versus other carriers.

"Making sure that residents and visitors of the Palmetto State are having all their wireless needs fulfilled is a great undertaking," Fountain said. "We'll continue the ongoing commitment and investment here to serve our customers and communities for a long time to come."

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.

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