Verizon Wireless Rolls Out the Red Carpet for 2008 Republican National Convention

Verizon Wireless Rolls Out the Red Carpet for 2008 Republican National
Convention
Network Ready with $6.4 Million Investment in New Cell Sites and Expanded
Network Capacity; New Store Opens Near Convention Site

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for the
Republican National Convention (RNC) on Sept. 1-4, Verizon Wireless has made
significant upgrades to its voice and data network and opened a conveniently
located Communications Store in downtown Saint Paul. Together, these steps
will improve the experience customers enjoy when they make voice calls and
send text, picture or video messages or when they shop for handsets or
accessories while attending the convention.
From the first speech to the final balloon drop, Verizon Wireless' network
is ready to handle a 33 percent increase in voice traffic and 150 percent more
data transmissions during each day of the convention than during a normal day.
The operator of the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network has
invested $6.4 million in network improvements for the estimated 45,000
visitors including delegates, politicians and 15,000 media coming to the
greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.
To provide a convenient location for the company's customers attending the
RNC, Verizon Wireless opened a new Communications Store in downtown Saint Paul
at 201 W. 7th Street in July. In addition, the company's Mall of America
store has been remodeled to showcase a new and highly interactive retail
concept.
"We have made a significant investment in network improvements to provide
the reliable, high-quality network service customers expect from Verizon
Wireless," said Nancy B. Clark president -- Great Plains region, Verizon
Wireless. "Our customers will be talking, texting, navigating and e-mailing
with their wireless phones and devices at a record-setting pace. And, if they
have any questions, or need extra batteries or accessories, our downtown Saint
Paul store will be within easy walking distance from the convention and all of
our stores will be ready to serve them."
COWs and COLTs join the Elephant at the party
As part of Verizon Wireless' network preparation for the convention, the
company will activate temporary cell sites, known as Cells on Wheels (COWs)
and Cells on Light Truck (COLTs) at high-demand locations in the Twin Cities
area. These sites can process thousands of calls and data transmissions each
hour and are designed for use at special events that demand additional network
capacity.
In downtown Minneapolis, two COWs have been activated near the Hilton and
Hyatt hotels. A COLT and a COW have also been activated at the fairgrounds in
Saint Paul because the Minnesota State Fair dates overlap the convention. The
Minnesota State Fair draws more than 1.6 million visitors each year and
operates Aug. 21-Sept. 1.
Not just Talk. Ballot includes Text/Picture/Video and E-mail
With the high number of users expected to not only talk, but use data
features such as text, picture and video messaging or use wireless modems and
devices to access the Internet and e-mail through the company's high-speed
wireless broadband network, Verizon Wireless has made network upgrades where
convention activities will be concentrated.
Verizon Wireless has added two new in-building cell sites at the main
convention location -- Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, and in the
Minneapolis Convention Center, which will host CivicFest during the convention
week. Both cell sites will remain in-service after the convention. The
company has also doubled the capacity of existing cell sites near the
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and increased capacity to most
cell sites in both downtown areas by adding equipment and software to existing
sites.
Our platform? A more reliable network for all
Verizon Wireless' network reliability is supported by industry-leading
redundancy and maintenance measures, including back-up battery power at all
facilities. For additional reliability, generators are installed at all
switching facilities and many cell site locations. During the convention, a
dedicated network Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be staffed 24 hours a
day.
The company has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed -- $5.5
billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its
national network and to add new services. Through mid-year 2008, more than
$475 million has been invested on network improvements in Minnesota since
2001.
Customer Caucus locations
The 2,500 square-foot downtown Saint Paul store provides full sales and
service to Verizon Wireless customers. Operating hours of the store, which is
managed by Jason Arvidson, are Monday though Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the Convention the store will be open
Sunday, Aug. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Labor Day9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept.
2-4 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to assist delegates, media and other visitors with
any of their wireless needs. For more information, call the store at
651-222-3255.
The Mall of America store is located on the third floor in the West Market
of the mall and is open during the mall's regular operating hours. Customers
can visit www.verizonwireless.com or call 800-922-0204 to locate other store
locations throughout the greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and
data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge,
N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more
information, go to: 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

Karen Smith of Verizon Wireless, +1-763-595-2511,
Karen.Smith@verizonwireless.com, or Matt Lindstrom, for Verizon Wireless,
+1-612-724-3701, Matt@mcfarlandcahill.com