Fitchburg, Templeton, and Westminster Residents to Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion

In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Worcester County, Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, has expanded its network with a new cell site. The new site increases coverage and capacity along Route 2 between Fitchburg and Templeton, as well as local portions of Route 140 and the surrounding area.

Verizon Wireless invested $145 million during the first six months of the year to enhance wireless capacity and coverage throughout the six states of New England, elevating the cumulative network investment in the region to more than $2 billion since 2000. Nationally the company invests more than $1 billion every 90 days to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services, including picture messaging, text messaging, BroadbandAccess high-speed internet and the company's exclusive V CAST service. The company's ongoing network investment now totals more than $40 billion nationally over the past seven years.

BroadbandAccess Revision A offers computer users the nation's most reliable high-speed wireless mobile broadband network, operating at average upload speeds between 500 and 800 kbps, and download speeds between 600 kbps and 1.4 mbps. V CAST brings video clips of TV shows, music on demand and other multimedia services to wireless phones over Verizon Wireless' high-speed EV-DO network.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the third quarter of 2007 as the company added 1.6 million net new customers and also reported the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the wireless industry.

The company's 'nation's most reliable wireless 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. Nationally, these test men and women drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles almost 1,000,000 miles annually on Interstate, U.S. and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets in high- population areas, based upon U.S. Census counts, to confirm that voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company 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 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.