Verizon Wireless Increases Capacity, Sends Cells on Wheels to Areas Most Impacted by Storm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the days following the devastating storms in Alabama, Verizon Wireless has worked to restore damage done to its networks and to deliver additional capacity to help families and first responders maintain communication during the recovery.

Verizon Wireless has two Cells on Wheels (COWs) operating in Tuscaloosa and Pleasant Grove to boost coverage in two of the hardest hit areas of the state.  Temporary towers are operating in Cullman, Centreville, Jasper and east of Lake Martin to replace towers badly damaged in the storms.  Verizon also added capacity on existing towers in Bessemer, Birmingham, Decatur, Guntersville, Hueytown and Midfield to accommodate increased traffic across the network.  At this time, more than 99 percent of Verizon Wireless' network across the state is fully operational.

In addition, all Verizon Wireless locations in the affected areas including those in Huntsville, Decatur, Guntersville, Fort Payne, Cullman, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa are open to residents, regardless of whether or not they have Verizon Wireless service, so that those impacted by the storms can make calls and charge phones.  Mobile communications stores providing charging stations, phones and retail service are operating at Hill's Foodland Grocery in Pleasant Grove (851 Park Road) and at Publix in Harvest (5850 Alabama 53).  A mobile Internet café is set up near Phil Campbell High School (65 School Avenue, Phil Campbell) and a phone bank has been set up at Scott Elementary School in Pratt City (1517 Hibernian Street).

Mobile communications stores will serve residents Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. CDT.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 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