Verizon Wireless Continues to Expand and Enhance Georgia Voice and Data Network

Verizon Wireless Continues to Expand and Enhance Georgia Voice and Data Network

Company Spends $105 Million to date in 2008 to Expand Network; Launches New South Georgia Markets; Opens two New Retail Locations

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, has completed a very aggressive quarter of network expansion and enhancement across Georgia. Year to date, Verizon Wireless added a total of 14 new cell towers, invested more than $105 million and executed the company's largest expansion in the companies history in Georgia with the launch of service in the Valdosta and Waycross areas.

The company continued to expand its Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network Revision A (Rev. A). With the enhanced network, Georgians have even more ubiquitous access to Verizon Wireless' two prime services: BroadbandAccess and V CAST. With BroadbandAccess, customers can download a one Megabyte e-mail attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file -- in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. The company's V CAST multimedia services offer customers the ability to download full song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to their phones.

In the second quarter of 2008, coverage was enhanced and expanded in the following Georgia cities:

   Americus, GA              Two new cell sites enhance calling capacity and                             in building service for the city center of                             Americus including the residential and                             commercial areas along US 280, US 19 and the                             Sumter County Hospital.    Atlanta                   Upgrades to the high speed wireless broadband                             (EVDO Rev A) service increased network capacity                             in East Atlanta, East Cobb, top end of I-285,                             Marietta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Roswell,                             Chamblee and Toco Hills areas.    Brooks, GA                High speed wireless broadband service (EV-DO Rev                             A) is now available for the town of Brookes,                             southern Fayette County and in the residential                             and commercial areas along Hwy 16 between                             Sharpsburg and Griffin.    Carrollton, GA            Network capacity was enhanced for downtown                             Carrollton.    Conyers, GA               Data capacity was enhanced along I-20 from                             Lithonia to Conyers, specifically the Turner                             Hill Road exit in Lithonia (Stone Crest Mall) to                             the Salem Road exit east of Conyers.    In                             addition, a new cell site enhanced calling                             capacity and in-building service south of                             Downtown Conyers along Highway 138.    Forsyth, GA               Network enhancements provide greater calling                             capacity for the residential and commercial                             areas of the city of Forsyth and I-75.    Griffin, GA               New cell site enhances calling capacity and in                             building service-level in the city of Griffin                             including the residential and commercial areas                             along US 441, Griffin-Spaulding County airport                             and the Spaulding Regional Hospital.    Macon, GA                 Network enhancements provide greater calling                             capacity in the residential and commercial areas                             of the city of Macon, the Macon Mall area, I-475                             and I-75.    McDonough, GA             New cell site provides high-speed wireless                             broadband (EVDO Rev A) coverage on Hwy 23 and I                             75 southwest of the city, as well as enhanced                             coverage and capacity along I-75 between Locus                             Grove and McDonough.    Metter, GA                Network enhancements provide greater capacity in                             the residential and commercial areas of the city                             of Metter and I-16.    Milledgeville, GA         New cell site enhances calling capacity and in                             building service-level in the city of                             Milledgeville including the residential and                             commercial areas along US 19, Georgia College                             and State University and the Baldwin County                             Hospital as well as the North Milledgeville                             area.    Newnan, GA                New cell site and network enhancements provide                             greater calling capacity east of Newnan in the                             area of the Summer Grove subdivision near Hwy 34                             and in the area of Frontage Road along I-85 and                             Lower Fayetteville Road and I-85.  In addition,                             high-speed wireless broadband service (EVDO Rev                             A) expansion was completed along Hwy 34 between                             I-85 and Thomas Crossroads.    Norcross, GA              New cell site provides enhanced coverage an in                             building high-speed wireless broadband service                             (EVDO Rev A) along Jimmy Carter Blvd and                             Rockbridge Road area.    An additional new cell                             site provides coverage enhancements along the                             Chattahoochee Recreational Area at Jones Bridge.    Northeast Georgia         Expansion of high-speed wireless broadband                             service (EVDO Rev A) now extends from Helen to                             the west, Rabun Gap to the north, down through                             Clayton, Tallulah Falls and Clarksville to the                             south.    Sandersville, GA          New cell site enhances calling capacity and in                             building service-level in the eastern portions                             of Sandersville and Tennile including the                             residential and commercial areas along GA 15, 24                             and 242.    Savannah, GA              Two new cell sites enhance calling capacity and                             in-building service-level in the city center of                             Savannah and Pooler including the residential                             and commercial areas along I-95, Pooler Parkway,                             Godley Station, Daffin Park and the Savannah                             International Airport.    Senoia, GA                Network enhancements provide greater capacity                             and in-building coverage of high-speed wireless                             broadband service (EVDO Rev A) in the town of                             Senoia, southeast Coweta County and in the                             residential and commercial areas along Hwy 16                             between Sharpsburg and Griffin.    Suwanee, GA               Two new cell sites enhance coverage between I-85                             and 316, along Hwy 317 (Lawrenceville Suwanee                             Road), and at the intersection of McGinnis Ferry                             and Old Atlanta Roads.    Wrightsville, GA          New cell site enhances calling capacity and in                             building service-level in the city of East                             Dublin including the residential and commercial                             areas along US 319, US 80, GA 29 and 86.    

In addition, now residents, businesses and travelers along I-16 -- from Macon to Savannah, Savannah to Augusta, and Augusta to Macon, have seamless high speed Broadband Access data coverage all along their routes. In south Georgia, the company completed its largest single launch of the Verizon Wireless voice, National Access data, and Broadband Access data network in this state, from the eastern edge of Thomas County, northeast through Bacon County, southeast through Charlton and Camden Counties and everywhere in between.

"Wireless customers throughout Georgia continue to demand the best -- and Verizon Wireless is committed to continue doing everything we can to deliver it. We'll continue to focus on meeting our customers' growing wireless needs by delivering on our brand promise -- the best, most reliable wireless network," said Jeff Mango, President Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama Region. "The developments and investments we undertook in the second quarter of 2008 are in direct response to the remarkable growth in the demand for our wireless service."

The company's continued investment in Georgia is part of Verizon Wireless' ongoing effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $40 billion -- $5 billion on average every year -- since the company was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Other examples of company leadership include being first to offer nationwide plans with unlimited calling and the only provider to offer a 30-day network Test Drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn't satisfied and switches to another carrier.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Caran Smith of Verizon Wireless, +1-678-339-4891,
Caran.Smith@verizonwireless.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives interested in setting up an interview or ride-along test drive with your local Verizon Wireless test man or woman, can contact Caran Smith at (678) 339-4891 or caran.smith@verizonwireless.com.

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