Most Reliable Wireless Network Just Got Better In Charleston, West Virginia, And Portions Of The Tri-State Area

CHARLESTON, WV — Verizon Wireless today announced it has completed the integration of its network with that of Alltel in Cabell, Kanawha, Putnam and Wayne counties in West Virginia, Lawrence County in Ohio, and Boyd, Carter and Greenup counties in Kentucky, to provide customers with clearer reception, fewer dropped calls and more coverage, including stronger in-building coverage.

Verizon Wireless' voice and high-speed 3G data network combined with that of Alltel creates the largest wireless network footprint in the United States. The integration in this area enables more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive e-mail and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones on the nation's most reliable wireless network.

Cities and major roadways directly affected by the network integration include;

• Ashland, Kentucky;
• Ironton, Ohio;
• The West Virginia communities of Barboursville, Charleston, Huntington, Hurricane, Milton, Nitro and Scott Depot;
• East along Interstate 64 from Olive Hill, Ky., to Milton, W.Va.;
• Northwest along U.S. Route 35 from Pliny, W.Va., to Gallipolis, Ohio;
• Southeast along U.S. Route 60 from Pratt, W.Va., to Montgomery, W.Va.;
• Northeast along Interstate 79 from Clendenin, W.Va., to Wallback, W.Va.;
• South along Interstate 77 from Kenna, W.Va., to Sissonville, W.Va., and;
• North along U.S. routes 60 and 23 from Interstate 64 through Ashland, Ky., to Ironton, Ohio.

"The integration of Alltel's network to the Verizon Wireless network provides our customers with unmatched coverage in the area," said Mark Frazier, president — Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "Now our high-speed 3G broadband wireless network is the largest and most reliable in the United States, and network reliability is the No. 1 reason customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless. We are committed to continuing to perfect our network so that our customers in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia know they can depend on us every time they use their wireless devices."

Verizon Wireless has been preparing to integrate Alltel's network since completing its purchase of the company last year. Alltel's 3G data network has been upgraded to the latest revision of wireless broadband technology to enable faster delivery of data applications, including email and browsing the Internet.

The company's ongoing network investment in Ohio, northeastern Kentucky and West Virginia now totals more than $1.9 billion. Nationally, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $60 billion — $5.7 billion on average every year — since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new 3G services like Mobile Broadband and V CAST.

For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit 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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