BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Dec. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it has completed its purchase of wireless assets in rural Missouri (RSA # 13) from United States Cellular Corporation.  The purchase will expand Verizon Wireless' brand and network footprint south of St. Louis to the counties of Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, and Washington.  Financial terms are not being disclosed. 

The purchase includes U.S. Cellular's Missouri-13 25MHz Cellular A Block license, as well as customers and related CDMA operations in the market area. The license and operating assets being acquired cover a population of 110,000 and approximately 1,700 square miles, including Interstate Highway 55 and state highways US 8, US 21 and US 67.  Major population centers include Ste. Genevieve, Potosi, Desloge, and Farmington, Missouri.

Verizon Wireless will serve acquired U.S. Cellular customers using the existing U.S. Cellular brand name until the network integration and upgrade to 4G LTE is complete, expected to be in mid-2014.  U.S. Cellular customers affected by this purchase will receive a welcome letter from Verizon Wireless in the next few weeks.  Customers do not need to take any action at this time. 

"We look forward to expanding our brand presence and coverage in Missouri and welcome the U.S. Cellular customers in this market area to the nation's most reliable network and the largest 4G LTE network," said Brendan Fallis, president of Verizon Wireless' Kansas/Missouri Region.  "Our mission is to make our customers' wireless experience the best it can be."

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $80 billion since its inception to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network, including its 4G LTE network, which is now substantially complete and available in more than 500 markets across the country to more than 97 percent of the U.S. population.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE and 3G networks. The company serves 101.2 million retail customers, including 95.2 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 72,000 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.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://news.verizonwireless.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews

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SOURCE Verizon Wireless