Brickyard 400 Fans to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancements Around Track

INDIANAPOLIS, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has increased its data capacity by 103 percent and its voice capacity by 39 percent around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to accommodate an expected Brickyard 400 crowd of 250,000 people this weekend.

The company deployed two temporary cell sites (one Cell on Wheels or COW and one Cell on Light Truck or COLT) to boost coverage for those attending the Sunday race. The COW and COLT are fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites that enhance wireless capacity in a specific location—and work especially well in dense areas with large crowds. The Verizon Wireless network crew is on call 24-7, monitoring usage and performance in real-time throughout the event.

"NASCAR fans will be relying on their wireless devices this weekend to share the event as it's happening," said Greg Haller, president–Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. "Our customers choose Verizon Wireless because they know they can depend on us every time they pick up their phones to update their favorite social networking sites, send video and photos to loved ones and keep in touch with friends and family at the race."

The network enhancements are part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Indiana and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $59 billion since it was formed—$5.7 billion on average every year—to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services.

About Verizon Wireless in Indiana

In Indiana, Verizon Wireless has more than 550 employees and 37 company-owned retail locations in 23 cities, including Anderson, Avon, Bloomington, Carmel, Columbus, Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lawrence, Mishawaka, Merrillville, Muncie, Noblesville, Plainfield, Portage, South Bend, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  81,000 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless