Verizon Wireless Texas Network Ready for 2010 Severe Weather Season

DALLAS, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, including the nation's largest wireless 3G broadband network, announced that the network is prepared for the 2010 severe weather season.

To ensure Texas residents have comprehensive, reliable wireless coverage in case of severe weather, and every day, the company invested nearly $268 million during 2009 to strengthen and enhance its wireless network throughout the state.

Highlights of these enhancements include expanding capacity in the company's regional switching facilities throughout Texas, erecting new digital cell sites with on-site back-up power, and deploying a team of "test men" across the state in high-tech vehicles to fine tune the company's all-digital network.

These intensive investments and preparations proved critical during and after past years' extraordinary storm seasons. In the aftermath of even the most devastating weather, the Verizon Wireless network in Texas remained strong while many other wireless communication networks struggled to serve emergency response officials and residents reaching out to insurance providers, family, friends and co-workers.

Additional highlights of the Verizon Wireless 2010 severe weather season preparation and network enhancement include:

• A comprehensive emergency response plan, including preparing emergency command centers across Texas in the case of a storm or other crisis.
• Verizon Wireless network technicians, who serve as the inspiration for the famous TV Test Man commercials, travel the state in 6 high-tech vehicles to measure the quality of voice and data calls on Verizon Wireless and other carriers.
• The company has a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS), and generators on trailers (GOaTS) that can be rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network capacity.
• Pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the network operating at full strength even if power is lost for an extended period of time.
• Erecting new digital cell sites, of which about 80 percent have their own on-site generators and fuel tanks to provide backup power.
• Installation of advanced in-building systems to boost wireless coverage and services at hospitals, government and emergency facilities, high-traffic public venues and other locations throughout Texas.
• Integrating Alltel Wireless facilities into the more advanced Verizon Wireless network, so former Alltel customers will benefit from the nation's most reliable voice and 3G data network.

This year, Verizon Wireless plans to launch its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless services in 25 to 30 markets nationally. LTE will offer customers significantly greater network capacity than even today's most advanced 3G coverage.  

For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, products and services, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 81,000 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

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