Verizon Wireless Spends More Than $126 Million In 2007 To Enhance Tennessee's Wireless Network

NASHVILLE, TN — Verizon Wireless contributed $126 million in 2007 to expand the company's voice and data wireless networks across Tennessee, increasing the company's four year investment to more than $556.5 million.

A large portion of the company's 2007 investment went toward expanding wireless service in already established metropolitan and tourist areas and heavily traveled interstate roads.

Areas of focus in the greater Tri-Cities area included the town of Mountain City, Tenn., on US 421, Norton, Va., US 19 North of Abingdon, Va.

Areas of focus in the greater Knoxville area included University of Tennessee Knoxville campus, Dandridge (SR 92 and Highway 25 West), Corryton (SR 331 northeast of Knoxville), Luttrell (SR131 and 61 northeast of Knoxville), and the towns of Robbins, Sunbright, Oneida, and Winfield on US 27 North of Knoxville.

Areas of focus in the greater Chattanooga area included northern downtown Chattanooga, University of Tennessee Chattanooga campus, US 41 west of Chattanooga, town of Hixson, Hixson Pike, Highway 153 and North Glen Estates, Copperhill (SR 68) and Speedwell (SR 63).

Areas of focus in the greater Nashville area included US 41A Southeast of Eagleville, US 231 in Shelbyville, Murfreesboro on I-24, Jordonia (Northwest of Nashville) on Briley Parkway near SR 12 intersection, SR 55 Southwest of McMinnville and the southern portion of McMinnville, SR 64 North of Beechgrove, SR 130 west of Decherd, US 70 South of Sparta, US 31 South of Columbia, South Bellevue (Southwest corner of Davidson County), Dowellton on US 70 East, Pall Mall on US 127 near Tennessee/Kentucky boarder and Hopkinsville, and Kentucky (northern border of Christian County's northern boarder).

Areas of focus in the West Tennessee include the suburbs of Collierville (Southeast corner of Shelby County), Western Desoto County in subdivision Twin Lakes subdivision near MS SH 301 (just South of Memphis), Jackson near I-40, Milan (surrounding areas on US 45 East), McKenzie, Trenton, Tipton/Haywood county border between Covington and Brownsville, Barton, Miss. at intersection of SR 302 and SR 309, and Cockrum, Miss. (Southwest corner of Desoto County just South of Memphis).

"Verizon Wireless has been in rapid growth mode since entering the Tennessee market in 2004 to deliver the most reliable wireless network available to Tennesseans," said Terry Dison, director of system performance for Verizon Wireless in Tennessee. "We will continue to invest our resources in wireless technology infrastructure to deliver cutting-edge wireless services to customers."

With more than 2,200 people employed statewide, Verizon Wireless operates a Customer Contact Center in Murfreesboro, a Customer Loyalty Call Center in Nashville, and is building a $54 million regional headquarters in Cool Springs. Verizon Wireless has 47 retail stores/kiosk locations statewide and is the state's leading wireless carrier.

Verizon Wireless is committed to offering customers the most reliable wireless service.

Verizon Wireless is committed to offering customers the most reliable service on the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network. To support that claim, the company's test engineers make more than 3 million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' and other national wireless carriers' networks while traveling almost 1 million miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles. In fact, the company's "most reliable wireless voice and data network* in the nation claim is based on these network studies.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services in Tennessee, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.

* Network details at www.verizonwireless.com/bestnetwork.

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.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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.

####