Verizon Wireless Invests $100 Million in Western Pennsylvania / 2010 Network Spending Supports Business and Consumer Demands

WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $100 million in 2010 to enhance its network in the western half of Pennsylvania. The investment included six new cell sites, upgrading equipment on 460 existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network, and prepping the backbone of the network for deploying 4G LTE across the state.

"Our company is focused on building a reliable 4G network both here in Pennsylvania and nationwide, but we also remain committed to improving our 3G network which millions of customers rely on daily," said Beth Drohan, Midwest Area vice president-network, Verizon Wireless. "Customers may use their wireless devices in different ways, but they all have one need in common--a reliable network."

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.3 billion on improvements to its network in Pennsylvania, including the following upgrades made in the western portion of the state in 2010:

-- Six new cell sites were activated in western Pennsylvania enabling more customers to use their phones for social networking, Internet browsing, downloading apps and music, exchanging email and text, picture and video messages, watching high-quality videos and making calls. -- Equipment was installed at 460 cell sites across the western half of the state to boost capacity of the company's advanced 3G high-speed wireless network and improve speed and performance. -- New equipment was installed across the network in preparation of deploying 4G LTE, which will increase bandwidth to handle more data traffic. -- Permanent backup generators were installed at six cell sites to ensure the network remains reliable during times of crisis. -- Temporary cell sites were deployed at high-profile events during the year that draw large crowds, including Penn State University home football games and the Creation Festival in Mt. Union, Pa. For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter

Stay in the know about Verizon Wireless news in Pennsylvania by following @merrila on Twitter at http://twitter.com/merrila. For the latest network-related news, information and upgrades, follow @VZWNetwork on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNetwork.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone . For more information, visit http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Laura Merritt, Verizon Wireless, [phone],
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Web Site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/