Five Hurricane-Ready Super Switches Now Cover Verizon Wireless Customers In Florida

Mobile Call Processing Centers, Including Latest in Broward County, Designed to Withstand Category 5 Hurricane; Video Available

News provided by

Verizon Wireless

Mar 29, 2010, 08:00 ET

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and ORLANDO, Fla., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- National Hurricane Conference sponsor Verizon Wireless announced today that it now operates five hurricane-ready super switches covering the state of Florida. These Mobile Telephone Switching Offices (MTSOs) -- the latest began serving southern Florida, including the Florida Keys, Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas just this month -- will further strengthen wireless coverage and advanced services for Verizon Wireless customers throughout the state year-round and during hurricanes and other emergencies.

A $50 million, 45,000-square-foot facility is home to the company's newest super switch, which connects tens of millions of voice calls and wireless data transmissions each day. Verizon Wireless super switches are designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane. In addition to hardened shells, they feature large-scale, on-site power generation; redundant operations and technologies; and other back-up systems to ensure the Verizon Wireless network remains strong, running and reliable. The switches also serve as Emergency Operations Centers for Verizon Wireless engineers and technicians working to ensure continued wireless network operation in the event of a hurricane or other crisis.

"Our customers count on us for their wireless service, especially in times of crisis when they need it most. We prepare year-round for hurricanes and other inclement weather," said Pam Tope, Florida region president for Verizon Wireless. "With these super switches, customers who travel to and live in Florida, where hurricanes can be devastating and deadly, will have reliable, advanced coverage and services during hurricane season and throughout the year."

The Verizon Wireless super switch project is a key component of the company's ongoing commitment to build and maintain the largest and most reliable wireless network in the United States. Across the country, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $55 billion since it was formed -- $7 billion in 2009 alone -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services.

This investment includes efforts by the Verizon Wireless Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery team to prepare Verizon Wireless' network and operations nationwide to help keep the company up and running and customers connected in times of crisis.

Take a Video Tour of a Super Switch

Video of a Verizon Wireless super switch is available. Visit the VerizonWirelessTV YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/VerizonWirelessTV to take a video tour of a facility. View and download broadcast-quality video of the MTSO in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million 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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SOURCE Verizon Wireless