Network Enhancement Gives Verizon Wireless Customers in State College, Pa., Something to Talk About

Tue Jul 17 07:24:00 2007

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Verizon Wireless, the only major carrier with a 30-day network test-drive pledge that pays for calls if a customer isn’t satisfied and switches to another carrier, announced today that it has activated a new cell site in State College, Pa., enhancing coverage in portions of Centre County.

This network enhancement enables more Verizon Wireless customers living in and visiting the area to use their wireless phones to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; and download games and ringtones while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

The new cell site improves network coverage in and around the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel and throughout Innovation Park at Penn State, a 118 acre business, industrial and research campus adjacent to Penn State University.

“This network enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless,” said Roger Tang, president – Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless.

Reliable service is fundamental to customer loyalty, and Verizon Wireless boasts the highest customer loyalty in the industry. During the first quarter of 2007, only 1.08 percent of its customers disconnected their service, a figure well below the industry average.

“The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention,” Tang said. “Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation’s most reliable network.”

This new cell site in State College is part of Verizon Wireless’ continual effort to expand coverage, improve capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested $39 billion in the last seven 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. Nearly $140 million of this investment was spent in Pennsylvania in the first half of 2007 to maintain and enhance its network.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 60.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD)(LSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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