Verizon Wireless Completes $274 Million in DC, Maryland & Virginia Network Enhancements in 2009

LAUREL, Md., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced completion of a $274 million investment in its wireless voice and data network in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia region in 2009, bringing the company's regional network investment to more than $2.3 billion since 2000.  

These regional network improvements are part of the company's aggressive, nationwide multi-billion dollar investment each year to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless' voice and data services. The company has invested more than $50 billion since it was formed in 2000.

The 2009 network investment of $274 million in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia included the activation of hundreds of new cell sites to expand existing coverage; the integration of the former Alltel network; and the expansion of the company's high-speed 3G Mobile Broadband network.  Verizon Wireless has the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network (There's A Map for That), which makes possible advanced services like turn-by-turn navigation, over-the-air downloads of the latest applications, text/picture messaging, video and music downloads, web browsing and 3D gaming.  

"Even the most sophisticated wireless device is only as good as the network it runs on," said Mike Maiorana.  "Verizon Wireless is the 3G network leader, and this investment of another $274 million further increases the 3G advantage our customers enjoy." 

In addition to continuing to invest and improve its 3G network in 2009, Verizon Wireless also began testing its 4G network which it plans to deploy in 2010 in 25 to 30 U.S. markets, covering 100 million people.  Verizon Wireless' 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network will offer dramatically higher wireless speeds and reliability than even today's most advanced 3G network.

Verizon Wireless also continued investing throughout the year in its industry-leading network quality assurance program.  Regionally, the company's real-life test men and test women drove specially equipped "baseline testing" vehicles thousands of miles on Interstate, U.S. and state highways, as well as major roads in high-population areas, to determine if voice calls and data connections were successful on the first attempt and stayed connected.  Vehicles are equipped with computer-controlled cell phones that -- on a national basis -- make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.  Results from this internal network quality assurance test program confirm that Verizon Wireless is the 3G network quality leader in the Virginia, Maryland and DC region, and correlate with other third-party network quality findings, including the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates' Wireless Call Quality Performance Study(SM), Vol.2.

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