Verizon Wireless Fine Tunes South Carolina Network for 2009 Hurricane Season

More Than $30 Million Invested Locally Since Hurricane Season 2008

GREENVILLE, S.C., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the leading
wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, including the
nation's largest wireless 3G broadband network, announced today that it has
completed its network preparations throughout South Carolina for the 2009
Hurricane Season.

To ensure Palmetto State residents have comprehensive, reliable wireless
coverage in case of severe weather, and every day, the company has invested
more than $30 million since the start of last year's Hurricane Season to
strengthen and enhance its wireless network throughout the region.

Highlights of these enhancements include expanding capacity in the company's
regional switching facilities throughout South Carolina, erecting new digital
cell sites with on-site back-up power, and deploying a team of "test men"
across the state in high-tech vehicles to fine tune the company's all-digital
network.

These intensive investments and preparations proved critical during and after
past years' extraordinary storm seasons. In the aftermath of even the most
devastating hurricanes, the Verizon Wireless network in South Carolina
remained strong while many other wireless communication networks struggled to
serve emergency response officials and residents reaching out to insurance
providers, family, friends and co-workers.

Additional highlights of the Verizon Wireless 2009 Hurricane Season
preparation and network enhancement include:

-- A comprehensive emergency response plan, including preparing emergency
command centers across South Carolina in the case of a storm or other
crisis.
-- Verizon Wireless network technicians, who serve as the inspiration for
the famous TV Test Man commercials, traveled more than 22,142 miles
across the state this past year in several vehicles (each valued at
more
than $250,000, equipped with phones, wireless data devices and
computers) to measure the quality of voice and data calls on Verizon
Wireless and other carriers.
-- The company has a fleet of dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWS), Cells on
Light Trucks (COLTS), and generators on trailers (GOATS) that can be
rolled into hard-hit locations or areas that need extra network
capacity.
-- Pre-arranging fuel delivery to mobile units and generators to keep the
network operating at full strength even if power is lost for an
extended
period of time.
-- Erecting during the past year 35 new digital cell sites, of which 100
percent have their own on-site generators and new expanded fuel tanks
to
extend their power-generating capacity.
-- The completion of the Verizon Wireless 3G high-speed wireless network
throughout the region, allowing customers to access advanced wireless
services more reliably and at even faster broadband speeds.

-- Updating and optimizing technology at regional network switching
facilities throughout the state. All of the company's "super
switches," which are designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane,
are equipped with large-scale back-up power generation.

These new technologies, facilities and network-strengthening efforts are part
of an investment exceeding $631 million in South Carolina since the company
was formed. Nationally, in that time period, Verizon Wireless has spent about
$50 billion to enhance its digital wireless network.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless
voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers.
Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 employees
nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: 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

Karen Schulz, +1-864-987-2006, Karen.Schulz@verizonwireless.com