Verizon Wireless Invests More Than $77 Million in 2009 to Enhance Wisconsin Network

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $77 million in 2009 to enhance its digital network in Wisconsin. The enhancements included building 23 new cell sites and upgrading equipment on hundreds of 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 year building out parts of their high-speed wireless network, we already had that 3G foundation in place across the state," said T.J. Fox, president–Wisconsin/Illinois Region, Verizon Wireless. "Consequently, this year we focused on increasing capacity across our 3G network in Wisconsin, 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 $354.5 million on improvements to its network in Wisconsin, including the following upgrades made in 2009:

• 23 new cell sites were activated statewide 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 hundreds of cell sites across Wisconsin, thereby 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 50 Wisconsin cell sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.

About Verizon Wireless in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Verizon Wireless has more than 500 employees and 30 company-owned retail locations in 30 cities, including Appleton, Ashwaubenon, Brookfield, Chippewa Falls, Delafield, Eau Claire, Fitchburg, Fond du Lac, Franklin, Glendale, Grafton, Grand Chute, Greenfield, Green Bay, Janesville, Madison, Menomonee Falls, Middleton, Minocqua, Onalaska, Oshkosh, Pleasant Prairie, Racine, Rhinelander, Stevens Point, Tomah, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Bend and Wisconsin Rapids.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 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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