New Mexico and El Paso, Texas Customers Benefit From Nearly $30 Million Verizon Wireless Network Expansion in 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Across New Mexico and El Paso, Texas wireless users are making more wireless calls and using more data services thanks to Verizon Wireless' nearly $30 million network investment in 2009.  That's an average of more than $80,000 per day spent to provide customers with the reliable, high-quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless.  

The company's ongoing network investment now totals more than $305 million in New Mexico and El Paso and more than $55 billion nationally over the past ten years.  

"Our customers are texting, e-mailing, downloading music, visiting Web sites and sharing pictures and videos at a record pace.  Last year in New Mexico and El Paso, 3G wireless data traffic increased nearly 75 percent from 2008," said Tony Heyman region president, Verizon Wireless.  

Verizon Wireless has the largest and most reliable wireless 3G network coverage area in the U.S.  A side-by-side comparison of 3G network coverage maps shows that Verizon Wireless has more 3G coverage than the three other major carriers.

New cell sites

A total of 10 new cell sites were installed and activated in the area in 2009 to strengthen coverage and enhance 3G high-speed wireless services.  

The network team also updated and added capacity to many other cell sites and further added backup power capabilities to improve network reliability and add new services.  

Alltel integration

In January 2009, Verizon Wireless completed its acquisition of Alltel, expanding the company's network coverage to approximately 290 million people, nearly the entire U.S. population.  

Verizon Wireless upgraded and integrated Alltel's 3G data network throughout New Mexico and El Paso to the latest revision of wireless broadband technology to enable faster delivery of data applications, including e-mail and browsing the Internet.

Real-life Test Men

Verizon Wireless network technicians (who inspired the famous TV Test Man character) traveled nearly 15,000 miles across New Mexico and El Paso last year in special vehicles to measure connection quality on the Verizon Wireless network versus other carriers.  

4G LTE services

Verizon Wireless also took steps toward the rollout of the nation's first 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network.  The company's aggressive 4G LTE network build includes plans to launch in 25 to 30 markets in 2010 and cover virtually all its current nationwide 3G footprint with the next-generation network by the end of 2013.

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: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq and LSE: 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