Verizon Wireless Reports 59 Percent Spike in Cell Phone Data Usage During Basketball Semifinals

INDIANAPOLIS, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless reports its network experienced 59 percent more data usage in and around Lucas Oil Stadium during Saturday's Butler Bulldogs' win over the Michigan State University Spartans than at the busiest Indianapolis Colts game last season. The 70,000-plus fans within Lucas Oil Stadium as well as those bustling around the area during the game were responsible for a 400 percent spike in data usage compared to a typical Saturday afternoon in downtown Indianapolis.

In preparation for the big game, Verizon Wireless tripled voice and data capacity to its network at the stadium as well as increased data capacity by 25 percent in downtown Indianapolis. The project entailed upgrading equipment on its existing cell sites, thereby enabling more Verizon Wireless customers to use their devices concurrently. Data usage includes accessing the Internet, viewing videos, downloading music, games and ringtones (including Butler's fight song), and exchanging email and text, picture and video messages.

"Based on the typical sports crowds and the way they use their wireless phones at major sporting events, we've built our network in and around the stadium to handle the significant spikes in usage," said Greg Haller, president–Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. "And, we are prepared to meet their needs once again tonight for the final championship game."

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $55 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. Since 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested $1.06 billion on improvements to its wireless network in Indiana. This year, the company will spend $57.4 million on its Indiana network.

About Verizon Wireless in Indiana

In Indiana, Verizon Wireless has more than 550 employees and 37 company-owned retail locations in 23 cities, including Anderson, Avon, Bloomington, Carmel, Clarksville, Columbus, Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lawrence, Mishawaka, Merrillville, Muncie, Noblesville, Plainfield, Portage, South Bend, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.

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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless