Washington Customers Gain From Improved 4G, 3G Wireless Services; Verizon Wireless Invests $94 Million (Jan-June) Enhancing Network

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BELLEVUE, WA — Verizon Wireless invested $94.4 million during the first six months of 2011 in Washington to further enhance wireless service, including launch of 4G LTE in Spokane, Tacoma, Everett and Olympia, expanding 3G network coverage and creating additional capacity for customers across the state. The multi-million expenditure in the first half of 2011 brings Verizon Wireless network investment in the Evergreen State to more than $1.3 billion since 2000 and more than $65 billion nationally.

The 2011 investment to date includes the rollout of the company’s 4G LTE network, which now serves greater Seattle, Everett, Spokane, Tacoma and Olympia; plus many surrounding towns and cities. This week, Verizon’s 4G LTE network will expand to cover one half of the U.S. population.

4G LTE provides wireless consumers access to services up to 10 times faster than the company’s industry-leading 3G network. With this latest advance, the company expects average data rates in real-world, loaded network environments to be 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. These speeds allow for smooth mobile video-conferencing, multiple simultaneous video streams, rapid transfer of large files, downloading and running powerful programs and other applications to improve efficiency and productivity wirelessly. The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE technology is built upon the 700 megahertz wireless frequency and designed to improve signal strength inside buildings.

Verizon Wireless also continues to reinforce its 3G network in Washington, building and activating numerous new cell sites plus hardware and software upgrades to improve coverage.

“We’re committed to upholding our reputation for building and maintaining the fastest, most advanced, most reliable wireless networks,” said Bobby Morrison, Verizon Wireless Pacific Northwest region president. “We’re fortunate to have the resources to invest and the very best network teams to serve customers here in Washington.”

Washington network enhancements in the first half of 2011 include:

  • Hardware and software upgrades to four switch centers across the state (Redmond, Seattle Spokane, Tacoma). The switches are designed to withstand severe earthquakes, feature large-scale on-site power generation, redundant operations and technologies, and other back-up systems to ensure reliable handling of millions of wireless calls and data transmissions each day. The switches serve as the emergency command center for network operations during disaster response.
  • Deployment of technicians and special vehicles to measure connection quality on the Verizon Wireless network versus other carriers. Using sophisticated testing equipment, the local test teams traveled nearly 40,000 miles and conducted hundreds of thousands of voice call attempts and data tests to ensure network superiority.
  • Installation of numerous high-tech in-building systems that use small wireless transmitters to ensure strong inside coverage. These systems were installed in high-priority public safety facilities such as police stations, emergency command centers and hospitals, as well as high-traffic wireless consumer locations such as hotels, resorts and tourist attractions.

Continuing to enhance both the Washington 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, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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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