Verizon Wireless Invests $179.7 Million in Illinois
2010 Network Spending Supports Business and Consumer Demands
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $179.7 million in 2010 to enhance its network in Illinois. The investment included 57 new cell sites, upgrading equipment on more than 560 existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network, and prepping the backbone of the network for deploying 4G LTE across the state.
"Our company is focused on building a reliable 4G network both here in Illinois and nationwide, but we also remain committed to improving our 3G network which millions of customers rely on daily," said T.J. Fox, president-Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless. "Customers may use their wireless devices in different ways, but they all have one need in common—a reliable network."
Fox said the strategic investment will help cities like Chicago be prepared for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament next month when tens of thousands of fans will pack into the United Center and blanket downtown Chicago landmarks, hotels and restaurants.
Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.6 billion on improvements to its network in Illinois, including the following upgrades made in 2010:
- Fifty-seven new cell sites were activated enabling more customers to use their phones for social networking, Internet browsing, downloading apps and music, exchanging email and text, picture and video messages, watching high-quality videos and making calls.
- Equipment was installed at more than 560 cell sites across Illinois to boost capacity of the company's advanced 3G high-speed wireless network and improve speed and performance.
- New equipment was installed across the network in preparation of deploying 4G LTE, which will increase bandwidth to handle more data traffic.
- Temporary cell sites were deployed at high-profile events during the year that draw large crowds, including Chicago Cubs home games, the Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Marathon.
For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter
Stay in the know about Verizon Wireless news in the Illinois/Wisconsin Region, follow @VZWCarolyn on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vzwcarolyn. For the latest network-related news, information and upgrades, follow @VZWNetwork on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNetwork.
About Verizon Wireless in Illinois
In Illinois, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,800 employees and 77 company-owned retail locations in more than 59 cities, including Addison, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Batavia, Belvidere, Bloomingdale, Bloomington, Bolingbrook, Bourbonnais, Bradley, Burbank, 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, New Lenox, Niles, Norridge, North Aurora, North Riverside, Northbrook, Orland Park, Palatine, Pekin, Peoria, Peru, Plainfield, Rockford, Romeoville, Schaumburg, South Elgin, Springfield, Urbana, Vernon Hills, West Dundee, Wheaton, Wheeling and Willowbrook.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 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
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