Qwest Helps Verizon Wireless Build the First 4G LTE Network in the Western United States by Delivering Fiber to the Cell Site

LAS VEGAS, DENVER, and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®, Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) and Verizon Wireless announced today Qwest Mobile Ethernet Backhaul, also known as fiber to the cell site, is being used by Verizon Wireless to build the nation's first 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.  

Qwest Mobile Ethernet Backhaul extends fiber to cellular sites in order to accommodate the increasing demands of mobile technologies such as smartphones, laptops, netbooks and other bandwidth-demanding devices.  The service provides an ideal migration path for wireless service providers such as Verizon Wireless to deploy 4G networks.  Qwest Mobile Ethernet Backhaul provides incremental, scalable bandwidth that enables Verizon Wireless to increase capacity to cellular sites on an as-needed basis.  

"Qwest worked with Verizon Wireless to develop a solution to meet their unique needs. Qwest Mobile Ethernet Backhaul is a smart, scalable solution that will help them manage their growing bandwidth demands and their deployment of a 4G network," said Roland Thornton, executive vice president, Qwest Wholesale Markets.

Nicola Palmer, Verizon Wireless network vice president, said, "As an important partner, Qwest is working to meet the backhaul demands that people in the West will require well into the future."

Verizon Wireless' LTE rollout plan positions the company as a global leader in 4G LTE deployment, and it is on track to deliver the nation's first 4G LTE network to customers in 25 to 30 markets, covering roughly 100 million people by year's end.  Verizon Wireless has been conducting trials in Boston and Seattle since August 2009 that have indicated that the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps), peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps, and average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments.  The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers' current or promised 3G network speeds.  

By leveraging its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE deployment in the United States, Verizon Wireless is capable of quickly deploying a high-quality wireless broadband network with excellent coverage and in-building penetration.  Verizon Wireless is currently installing LTE equipment at existing cell sites and switching centers around the United States as part of its extensive, ongoing investment in its voice and data network infrastructure.

Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network.  For more information about Qwest Communications, please visit www.qwest.com/wholesale.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million 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).  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.

About Qwest Wholesale

Qwest Wholesale delivers a robust suite of data/IP and voice solutions to a wide range of customers, including national and international carriers, Internet service providers, resellers, cable, wireless and content service providers, enhanced service providers, incumbent local exchange carriers and competitive local exchange carriers. Wholesale customers around the world rely on Qwest's state-of-the-art national fiber-optic network to meet their growing communications needs. For more information about Qwest Wholesale services, and to learn more about Qwest Wholesale's commitment to perfecting the customer experience, please visit Qwest.com/wholesale.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless