Verizon Wireless Continues Improvements In Greenville, North Carolina And Extends Its High-Speed Wireless Broadband Network

GREENVILLE, NC — Verizon Wireless recently increased wireless coverage in Greenville, N.C., and extended the footprint of the company's high-speed broadband network (EV-DO) in the area. The following enhancements in Greenville are part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in North Carolina:

• Expanded coverage on Highway 11 into the town of Ayden
• EV-DO coverage on Highway 264 west of downtown Washington
• Extended coverage on ECU campus and increased capacity for special events

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

Verizon Wireless' broadband network is enhanced with Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology and provides Verizon Wireless customers with data uplink speeds significantly faster than the company's NationalAccess service, which was introduced to Greenville residents in May 2007. Customers in wireless broadband coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 megabyte e-mail attachment — the equivalent of a small PowerPoint^® presentation or a large PDF file — in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. In addition, customers who travel outside the BroadbandAccess coverage area will switch seamlessly to the fastest Verizon Wireless network available, whether it is the wireless broadband network or the network that operates the company's NationalAccess service.

In 2006, Verizon Wireless invested $146 million to build, maintain and expand its high-quality network, and since 2000, the company has spent $719 million in North Carolina to ensure network reliability and expanded coverage and capacity. In the first six months of 2007, the company spent $110 million on improving North Carolina's network.

Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless provider to commercially launch a high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. In North Carolina, Verizon Wireless' broadband network is also available in Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Hickory, Wilmington, Greenville, Henderson, Roanoke Rapids, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Jacksonville.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 63.7 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 68,000 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.  

EDITORS NOTE: Test Man Ride-Along Program for the News Media
Specially equipped Verizon Wireless test vehicles simultaneously test the Verizon Wireless network as well as the networks of as many as seven other wireless providers, using a mobile laptop computer to generate phonically diverse "conversations." If one of your reporters is interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your locally-based Verizon Wireless test man or woman, please contact Carly Culbertson.

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