Verizon Wireless Invested More Than $61 Million in 2009 to Enhance Missouri Network

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $61 million in 2009 to enhance its digital network in Missouri. The enhancements included building 30 new cell sites and upgrading equipment on 730 existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network.

"While other wireless service providers played catch up this past year building out parts of their high-speed wireless network, we already had that 3G foundation in place across the state," said Brendan Fallis, president–Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless.  "Consequently, this year we focused on significantly increasing capacity across our 3G network in Missouri, enabling us to stay ahead of our customers' increasing demands for fast and secure wireless data services."

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $390 million on improvements to its network in Missouri, including the following upgrades made in 2009:

• Thirty new cell sites were activated throughout the state to improve network coverage and capacity, enabling more customers to use their phones concurrently to make voice calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
• Performance-based equipment was installed at 730 cell sites across Missouri, increasing capacity of the company's advanced 3G high-speed wireless network as well as improving its speed and performance.
• Permanent backup generators were installed at an additional 18 Missouri cell sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.
• The Alltel and Verizon Wireless networks were integrated in 12 counties in northern Missouri and two counties in south central Missouri and along I-35, US-65, US-136, US-61, US-63, US-36, US-160 and US-60 as part of the merger completion. This integration provides customers in Harrison, Mercer, Putnam, Sullivan, Davies, DeKalb, Schuyler, Scotland, Clark, Adair, Knox, Lewis, Ozark and Howell counties with clearer reception, fewer dropped calls and more coverage, including stronger in-building coverage.

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

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