$240 Million Invested in Florida Network During 2012 to Enhance Technology, Services for Customers Across State

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless invested approximately $240 million in network enhancements in Florida during 2012 to expand 4G LTE and other advanced wireless technologies to customers across the state. The rapid rollout of the nation's fastest 4G service will continue in 2013, with Verizon 4G LTE scheduled to cover the company's entire Florida network footprint by the end of the year.

Verizon 4G LTE already covers all of Florida's major markets and is accessible to the vast majority of the state's population.

"The rapid expansion of 4G LTE was a priority in 2012 as customers feasted on the technology's rich capabilities all over the state," said Frank Wise, network executive director for the Verizon Wireless Florida region.  "We're pleased to be far ahead of our competitors and plan to complete our 4G LTE Florida build-out by the end of 2013."

Verizon Wireless also reinforced its 3G EVDO technology, the nation's largest and most reliable 3G network, during 2012 in Florida.

Among a variety of special initiatives during the past year, Verizon network engineers completed high-tech installations and upgrades to numerous large sports facilities in Florida so fans would have a better wireless experience.  These venues include Amway Arena and the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando; Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach; Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp) in Gainesville; Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee; Marlins Park and Dolphins Stadium in Miami; Everbank Field in Jacksonville; and Brandon Forum, St Pete Times Forum, Raymond James Stadium and Tropicana Field in the Tampa Bay area.

"Sports venues and events often provide wireless networks with special challenges due to the structural design of the buildings, plus the tens or hundreds of thousands of smartphone toting fans and media all tweeting, texting, talking and posting at once," Wise said.  "We've devoted a vast amount of resources to enhance the fan experience and to clearly outperform the competition."

Additional highlights of the Verizon Wireless $240 million Florida network investment in 2012 include

• Activation of numerous new transmission sites and upgrades to hundreds of existing locations to reinforce 4G LTE and 3G network coverage throughout the state.
• Upgrades to five "super-switch" network processing centers in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Jupiter and Pembroke Pines.  The facilities are designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, feature large-scale on-site power generation, and numerous other back-up systems to ensure reliable handling of tens of millions of wireless calls and data transmissions each day.  The super-switches serve as the hub for network operations in the event of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and any type of disaster response.
• Installation of in-building systems that use dozens of small wireless transmitters to ensure strong coverage inside high-priority public safety facilities such as police stations, emergency command centers, hospitals and more.
• Teams of technicians spanning the state in sophisticated vehicles to measure connection quality on the Verizon Wireless network versus other carriers. The local test teams travel nearly 50,000 miles and make millions of voice and data connections each year to ensure network superiority.

For more information on the Verizon Wireless network, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves nearly 96 million retail customers, including 90.4 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 75,000 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