Verizon Spent More Than $814 Million on Virginia's Landline Telecommunications Infrastructure in 2010

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- From Appomattox to Arlington, Virginia consumers and businesses are reaping the benefits of Verizon's continued significant communications and computing infrastructure investment in the state.  Verizon invested more than $814 million in its Virginia landline communications network and IT infrastructure in 2010.  

"Verizon for decades has been a leading player in Virginia, helping to fuel the commonwealth's sustained economic development through aggressive investment in the latest technology for consumers and businesses," said Robert Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia.  "Virginia is a hub for our global Internet operations, as well as the home of some of the world's most sophisticated online businesses, which rely on our network and IT capabilities.

"From the smallest home to the largest business, Verizon's networks and technology touch lives, and our substantial investments benefit our customers, employees, suppliers and communities," said Woltz.

Verizon's major landline infrastructure programs last year included:

• Continued deployment of the company's award-winning, 100 percent fiber-optic FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services.  In 2010, Verizon extended FiOS service to more customers in the Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia areas, with the services available to more than 1.1 million Virginia homes and businesses at year's end.
• Enhancements that further differentiate FiOS services from the competition.  FiOS TV provides a host of innovative, interactive features including an advanced interactive media guide; social TV, news, sports and entertainment widgets; DVR management via broadband or cell phone; multi-room Home Media DVR and more.  In 2010, Verizon:
  • Launched Flex View, which enables FiOS TV customers to take on-demand video programming outside of the home and view it on various portable devices, including a growing number of compatible smartphones, tablets and laptops.
  • Revved up FiOS Internet speeds to 150 megabits per second for downloading and 35 Mbps for uploading – the fastest mass-market speeds in the country.
• Deployment of Verizon High Speed Internet service (using DSL technology) to several additional rural communities in central and southwestern Virginia, providing more than 10,000 residents and businesses in these areas another – or in many cases the first – choice for their broadband service.  Verizon also made a new speed tier of HSI service available to many Virginia customers, with download speeds at 10 to 15 megabits per second.
• Deployment of fiber-optic links to wireless providers' cell sites throughout Virginia as these carriers expand their infrastructure to meet ever-growing demand for wireless broadband and advanced 4G services.  In 2010, Verizon deployed fiber optics to connect 670 of these sites.  
• The opening of two network operations centers in northern Virginia that constantly monitor Verizon's global IP network and FiOS services nationwide.  These operations join two existing Virginia-based centers that monitor other facets of Verizon's infrastructure, from network security to managed services for government and businesses.

Verizon Business provides information technology and communications services to many medium- to large-business and government customers throughout Virginia. In 2010, the company continued to implement its "everything-as-a-service" strategy, introducing new cloud computing and security offerings and a host of industry-specific innovations, including:  

• Announcement of a data center in Culpeper, which will come online on Verizon's private IP-based network in 2011 to support provision of the company's flagship cloud computing services suite – Computing as a Service  – to U.S. government customers.
• A contract to provide the Commonwealth of Virginia with "smart credentialing" services that will enable authorities to electronically confirm the identities and skills of emergency responders arriving at a disaster scene.
• The Verizon Health Information Exchange, a new service that will consolidate clinical patient data from health care providers and translate it into a standardized format that can be securely accessed over the Web, regardless of the IT systems the providers use.  MedVirginia, a Richmond-based health care pioneer formed in 2000 by a consortium of Virginia health care providers, plans to use this service.

"Verizon's continued robust network and IT investment is driving the next generation of cloud computing services, which will benefit consumers and businesses alike by making new capabilities available to anyone, anywhere at the touch of a fingertip -- on a laptop, smartphone or tablet computer," said Woltz.  

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon