Verizon Wireless Invests More Than $166 Million in 2009 to Enhance Illinois Network

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested $166 million in 2009 to enhance its digital network in Illinois. The enhancements included building 96 new cell sites and upgrading equipment on hundreds of existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network.

"While other wireless service providers played catch up this year building out parts of their high-speed wireless network, we already had that 3G foundation in place across the state," said T.J. Fox, president–Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless. "Consequently, this year we focused on doubling capacity across our 3G network in Illinois, enabling us to stay ahead of our customers' increasing demands for fast and secure wireless data services."

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.3 billion on improvements to its network in Illinois, including the following upgrades made in 2009:

• 96 new cell sites were activated statewide to improve network coverage and capacity, enabling more customers to use their phones concurrently to make voice calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.
• Performance-based equipment was installed at hundreds of cell sites across Illinois, thereby increasing capacity of the company's advanced 3G high-speed wireless network between 50 and 100 percent as well as improving its speed and performance.
• Permanent backup generators were installed at 66 Illinois cell sites to ensure network functionality during times of crisis.

About Verizon Wireless in Illinois

In Illinois, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,200 employees and 76 company-owned retail locations in more than 57 cities, including Addison, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Batavia, Belvidere, Bloomingdale, Bloomington, Bolingbrook, Bourbonnais, Bradley,  Calumet City, Champaign, Chicago, Chicago Ridge, Crestwood, Crystal Lake, Dekalb, Dixon, Downers Grove, East Peoria, Forsyth, Galesburg, Gurnee, Hillside, Hodgkins, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Lake in the Hills, Lake Zurich, Lincolnwood, Machesney Park, Matteson, McHenry, Moline, Naperville, Niles, Norridge, North Aurora, North Riverside, Northbrook, Orland Park, Palatine, Pekin, Peoria, Peru, Plainfield, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Springfield, St.  Charles, Vernon Hills, West Dundee, Wheaton, Wheeling and Willowbrook.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq and LSE: 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