Verizon Wireless Continued Significant Network Investments Across Georgia In 2014

ALPHARETTA, Ga., March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgians in 2015 will experience faster, more reliable wireless calling, data streaming and Web surfing on the Verizon Wireless network thanks to heavy investments the company made in 2014. Over the course of the past year, the company invested more than $227 million in network enhancements across Georgia. Its total network investment in the state now totals more than $2.5 billion since the company was formed in 2000.

2014 Enhancements Reached Multiple Georgia Markets
2014 upgrades to the company's network included more than 145 new cell sites and the rollout of the company's XLTE technology into multiple Georgia markets, including Atlanta, Athens, Augusta Albany, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Rome, Valdosta and Waycross. Today, more than 400 of Verizon's 4G LTE 500-plus nationwide markets have been enhanced with XLTE. This means more customers in high-traffic locations can access the company's most advanced technology at the same time to send photos, download videos, surf the Internet and use other popular applications on their smartphones, tablets and other devices during times of peak usage.

"We have a relentless focus on providing our customers with the most reliable network possible. The significant investments we made across Georgia in 2014 are evidence of that unwavering commitment. No matter what is happening, Georgians expect our network to deliver. These devices have become a part of our lifestyles, and there is no question our network technologies are revolutionizing the way people communicate and execute their daily lives," said Jonathan LeCompte, president – Georgia/Alabama Region, Verizon Wireless.

Georgia Highlights

• Athens, Ga. saw the highest growth in wireless data usage in 2014.
• More Georgians are going wireless. More than 474 billion voice and data transmissions on the Verizon Wireless network in Georgia during 2014. This is an increase of 28 percent from 2013.
• Georgians logged more than 46 billion minutes of airtime last year, an increase of 6.7 percent year-over-year.
• Data is still King. Wireless data traffic increased over 64 percent year-over-year in Georgia.
• Georgians turn to wireless during major events. As example, during the 2014 Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, the Verizon Wireless network handled 202,000 minutes of use and more than 487 Gigabytes of data.

Verizon Wireless consistently earns top rankings from independent consumer reporting and testing institutions for network quality and performance. Most recently, Verizon Wireless was awarded best overall performance for the third consecutive time by independent mobile analytics firm RootMetrics, beating all other major wireless carriers in the state of Georgia in Reliability, Speed, Call Performance, Data Performance and Overall Performance.

Network Upgrades Enhanced Coverage at Hotels and Large Venues
In the capital city of Atlanta, 2014 network enhancements included XLTE network technology for the AmericasMart^® Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), installed the previous year, to deliver improved wireless coverage on every floor and exhibit hall across the three-building campus. Verizon Wireless also activated new DAS technology to serve the Marriott Marquis, Westin Downtown and Grady Hospital downtown, as well as 22 new small cells at Centennial Olympic Park, and executed a XLTE upgrade within the Georgia Dome. The company also completed a significant DAS upgrade and activated XLTE at the University of Georgia's Sanford Stadium in Athens. These investments support large crowds and ensure that both residents and visitors get the best experiences from their wireless devices on Verizon's network.

Verizon's capital investment in Georgia also fuels year-round preparations for severe weather such as tornadoes, floods and wildfires, when network reliability is crucial. The company maintains a fleet of cells on wheels (COWS), cells on light trucks (COLTS) and generators on trailers (GOaTS) for immediate deployment to provide extra network capacity when disasters strike.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.  As the largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 106.2 million retail customers, including 100.1million retail postpaid customers.  Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews. 

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Related Links

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