Verizon Wireless Expands 3G Wireless Network in Ashland County, Ohio

GREENWICH, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2011 -- To continue to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access, Verizon Wireless has expanded its local network in portions of Ashland County.

Consumer Advantages

The new cell site provides increased wireless voice and 3G data along Interstate 224 and Interstate 250 east of Greenwich and south of the town of New London including:

North from County Road 658 to the Millstone Hills Golf Course, and;
East from State Route 13 to Township Road 1101.

Expanded 3G data capacity in the area enables more customers using notebook computers or smartphones to:

Download and use apps, ranging from social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps to Hollywood news;
Rapidly browse the Web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, entertainment news and more;
Work remotely with file sharing;
Quickly download and play music favorites from Top 40 to Classical;
Send emails to friends, family and co-workers with picture and video attachments;
Download and play 3D games, and;
Stream video and customized radio stations.

"People across Ohio are increasingly relying on smartphones and 3G applications to manage their busy lives and stay connected at home or on-the-go," said Mark Frazier, president–Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "The nearly $2 billion we've invested into our Ohio network has kept us ahead of consumer trends, provided our customers a 3G advantage and underscored our belief that any mobile device is only as good as the network it runs on. Proactive and sustained investment has made Verizon Wireless the 3G leader in Ohio and nationwide."

Harnessing the Capabilities of a Robust 3G Network

Verizon Wireless' 3G network powers many leading mobile multimedia services, including:

Mobile Broadband Internet Access: Notebook computer users can access e-mail, download files and browse the Internet at broadband speed, downloading a one megabyte e-mail attachment – the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file – in about eight seconds and uploading it in less than 13 seconds.

V CAST Video: V CAST multimedia services offer customers the ability to play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to their phones, as well as to watch dozens of on-demand videos, including breaking news, weather, sports highlights and entertainment clips.

In addition to enhancing its 3G network, Verizon Wireless has deployed its 4G LTE Network in 102 metropolitan areas and 76 commercial airports coast to coast covering one-third of all Americans. During 2011, the company will continue to expand its 4G footprint to include more than 175 markets by year-end. Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE wireless network is the fastest and most advanced 4G network in America and offers speeds up to 10 times faster than the current 3G network.

Sustained Wireless Investment

The company has invested more than $65 billion – $6 billion on average every year – since its inception to increase the wireless voice and data coverage of its national network and to add new 3G services like Mobile Broadband and V CAST. As the carrier with America's largest and most reliable wireless network, Verizon Wireless cell sites in Ohio provide 3G wireless data connectivity.

Engineering America's Most Reliable Wireless Network

The company's 'America's most reliable wireless network' reputation is based on network studies performed by test men and test women throughout the country. By traversing more than one million miles annually on Interstate, U.S. and state highways, as well as major roads and surface streets in high-population areas–the equivalent of two roundtrips to the moon or 40 trips around the world–the test men and women 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 3.5 million voice call attempts and more than 19 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).