Verizon Wireless Invests $35.3 Million in Iowa
2010 Network Spending Supports Business and Consumer Demands
DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 16, 2011 - Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $35 million in 2010 to enhance its network in Iowa. The investment included 14 new cell sites, upgrading equipment on more than 240 existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network and prepping the backbone of the network for deploying 4G LTE in the future.
"Our company is focused on building a reliable 4G network both here in Iowa and nationwide, but we also remain committed to improving our 3G network which millions of customers rely on daily," said Beth Drohan, Midwest Area vice president-network, Verizon Wireless. "Customers may use their wireless devices in different ways, but they all have one need in common--a reliable network."
From 2000 to 2010, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $287 million on improvements to its network in Iowa, including the following upgrades made in 2010:
o Fourteen new cell sites were activated enabling more customers to use
their phones for social networking, Internet browsing, downloading apps
and music, exchanging email and text, picture and video messages,
watching high-quality videos and making calls.
o Equipment was installed at more than 240 cell sites across Iowa to boost
capacity of the company's advanced 3G high-speed wireless network and
improve speed and performance. The sites also extended 3G network
coverage in northern Iowa to Charles City, Forest City, Estherville,
Sioux Rapids, Emmetsburg, Northwood and Lake Mills as well as to the
counties of Hardin, Grundy, Marshall, Tama and Benton in eastern Iowa.
o New equipment was installed across the network in preparation of
deploying 4G LTE, which will increase bandwidth to handle more data
traffic. In December 2010, Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE network
in 38 major metropolitan markets and 60 commercial airports across the
country. The company's 4G LTE network will cover two-thirds of the U.S.
population by mid-2012, and by the end of 2013 the company will offer
its 4G LTE network from coast to coast - everywhere it offers 3G today.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit 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: Karen Smith, +1-763-595-2511, Karen.Smith@Verizonwireless.com, or Carolyn A. Schamberger, APR, +1-847-204-4282, Carolyn.Schamberger1@Verizonwireless.com, both of Verizon Wireless
Web Site: www.verizonwireless.com
