Ephrata, Pennsylvania, Residents to Benefit from Verizon Wireless Network Expansion
Investing to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Calling, Data Access
EPHRATA, Pa., Feb. 7 - In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in the Ephrata area, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site. The new site increases coverage and capacity along Route 322 in the Lincoln area, as well as along the Pennsylvania Turnpike eastbound towards Denver to mile marker 280 and westbound towards Lebanon to mile marker 275.
The network expansion is part of an aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days) to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless' voice and data services. The company has spent more than $190 million in 2007 to enhance services and coverage throughout southeastern, central and northeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, bringing the network investment in the region to more than $1 billion since 2000. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $40 billion over the last seven years into its national wireless network as part of its commitment to offer customers the most reliable service available, including wireless data services such as picture messaging and text messaging.
Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2007 as the company added two million net new customers. For the 13th consecutive quarter, Verizon Wireless also led the wireless industry in customer loyalty. The company posted a churn (customer turnover) rate of just 1.2 percent, well below the rate reported by the other major wireless carriers.
Verizon Wireless tests its network and those of its competitors to ensure the Verizon Wireless network remains the nation's most reliable. Nationally, Verizon Wireless' real-life test men and women drive 98 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 determine if 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 65.7 million customers. Verizon Wireless has invested nearly $44 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year - - to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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.
Source: Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Brett Marcy, +1-717-231-5340, Sheldon Jones, +1-215-638-5668, Sheldon.jones@verizonwireless.com, both for Verizon
Web site: www.verizon.com
