Connecticut Residents to Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

17 May 2006

In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents and visitors in Connecticut, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with five new cell sites. These new sites provide:

* improved coverage and capacity along I-95 near exit 56 and Route 1 in

Branford

* improved coverage and capacity along Routes 1 and 27 in the center of

Mystic

* improved coverage and capacity along Route 4 in western portions of West

Hartford

* improved coverage and capacity along RI-84 and Route 4 in Farmington.

The site will also cover a portion of Route 6 leading to the top of

Rattlesnake Mountain.

* additional coverage and capacity along Route 8 in Shelton

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days), including well over $300 million in New England in 2005 alone, to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion -- on average $5 billion a year -- into its national wireless network over the past six years as part of its commitment to offer customers the most reliable service available, including wireless data services such as picture messaging, text messaging, and the company's exclusive V CAST service. V CAST brings TV, music and other multimedia services to wireless phones over Verizon Wireless' high-speed BroadbandAccess network. BroadbandAccess offers customers the nation's largest high-speed wireless broadband network, operating at average speeds between 400 kbps - 700 kbps.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the first quarter of 2006 as the company added 1.7 million net new customers. Verizon Wireless is the leader in wireless customer loyalty. In the first quarter of 2006, the company posted a record-breaking low customer turnover rate of 1.18%, well below the rate reported by the other major wireless carriers.

The company's 'most reliable network' reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "can you hear me now" national advertising campaign. These engineers make more than 300,000 call tests monthly on Verizon Wireless' and other national carriers' networks while traveling over 100,000 miles a month in specially equipped, company-owned test vehicles.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million voice and data customers. The company has invested $30 billion in the last six years -- $5 billion on average every year since the company was formed -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To receive 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.

Source: prnewswire