Arizona Customers Benefit From $138 Million Verizon Wireless Network Investment In 2010

CHANDLER, AZ — Verizon Wireless invested more than $138 million during 2010 in Arizona to provide new wireless services, network coverage and additional capacity for its customers across the state. The multi-million spend in 2010 brings Verizon Wireless network investment in the Grand Canyon State to more than $1 billion in the last decade, and more than $65 billion nationally.

The 2010 investment funded the continued enhancement of the company’s industry-leading 3G network, and initial rollout of the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) high-speed wireless network.

“Through consistent annual investment and rigorous daily attention from an amazing team of network engineers in Arizona, we’ve built the largest and most reliable 3G network that will serve our customers for many years to come,” said Brian Danfield, Verizon Wireless region president.

“At the same time, we’ve launched our 4G LTE network with such blazing speeds you have to try it to believe it.”

In December, Verizon Wireless launched 4G LTE in 38 markets and 60 airports nationwide, including in greater Phoenix/Valley of the Sun. The company will continue to expand 4G LTE in these areas and into more than 140 new markets in 2011 and is scheduled to cover the state with the advanced wireless technology by 2013.

Additionally in 2010, Verizon Wireless completed integrating its network with that of Alltel across Arizona to provide customers with clearer reception, fewer dropped calls and more coverage, including stronger in-building coverage.

The integration of the two networks provides residents and visitors in Maricopa, Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Graham, Greenlee, Coconino, Yavapai, Yuma and La Paz counties the greater coverage and capacity of nearly 40 percent more cell sites.

Continuing to enhance both the Arizona 3G and 4G LTE networks will help ensure that customers receive the most reliable and advanced coverage for making voice calls, sending e-mails, text and picture messages, connecting to the Internet and accessing tens of thousands of applications, games, video, music and many other features from their phone, notebook, netbook, tablet or other wireless device.

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

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 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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