Verizon Wireless Invests $63 Million to Expand Network in Tri-State Area

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced the completion of a major network expansion in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. Now, more customers in the Tri-State area can make voice calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones on the nation's most reliable wireless network.

In the Mountain State, the company's expanded network now serves portions of Kanawha, Putnam, Mason, Wayne, Cabell, Greenbrier, Raleigh and Summers counties. Coverage has also been expanded in Boyd, Carter, Lawrence and Greenup counties in Kentucky and Lawrence and Gallia counties in Ohio.

The company's $63 million network investment so far this year now provides improved coverage in areas including the following:

    -- West along Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60 from Charleston to Ashland;
    -- Northwest along U.S. Route 35 from Interstate 64 to Winfield, WV;
    -- North along Interstate 77 from Charleston to Sissonville, WV;
    -- South along Interstate 77 from Pax into Mercer County;
    -- East along Interstate 64 from Beckley to White Sulphur Springs;
    -- Northeast along Interstate 79 from Charleston to State Route 119;
    -- Southeast along Interstate 64 to Marmet, WV;
    -- West along Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60 from Huntington to Soldier,
       KY;
    -- North along U.S. routes 23 and 52 from Interstate 64 to Ironton, OH;

Verizon Wireless built 95 new cell sites in the new coverage area and rebuilt the 57 cell sites that it purchased from West Virginia Wireless last year.

"Our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us because we deliver on our promise to provide the most reliable network," said Roger Tang, president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "This major expansion across the Tri-State area reflects that commitment. We'll continue investing in our network here in West Virginia as well as across the nation so that our customers can rely on their wireless phones everywhere they go."

As a result of the network expansion, Verizon Wireless customers living in and traveling to the Tri-State area can now enjoy all of the company's data products and services including:

-- Text, picture and video messaging: Customers can exchange text, picture and video messages with anyone on any wireless network in the United States.

-- Mobile Web 2.0: The Internet at customers' fingertips provides up-to- date headlines, minute-to-minute stock quotes, access to email and more.

-- Get It Now: This virtual store, available right on Verizon Wireless phones, is where customers can shop for business and productivity tools, ringtones, ringback tones, games and more.

-- V CAST and V CAST Music with Rhapsody: These consumer-oriented multimedia services give customers access to the most comprehensive selection of downloadable music, high-quality videos and the coolest 3D games found anywhere.

-- BroadbandAccess: The enhanced high-speed wireless service equips Verizon Wireless' business customers with a truly untethered mobile office experience, enabling them to wirelessly access their calendars, the Internet, email and critical business information residing behind their companies' firewalls.

In addition to Charleston, Beckley, Huntington, and Ashland, Verizon Wireless' newly expanded network covers these nearby communities:

    Alta, WV                  Amandaville, WV        Barboursville, WV
    Blue Sulfur, WV           Catlettsburg, KY       Ceredo, WV
    Cross Lanes, WV           Culloden, WV           Davis Creek, WV
    Dunbar, WV                Grayson, KY            Hat, WV
    Hurricane, WV             Institute, WV          Ironton, OH
    Jefferson, WV             Kenova, WV             Lewisburg, WV
    Marmet, WV                Meads, KY              Milton, WV
    Nitro, WV                 Olive Hill, KY         Ona, WV
    Russell, KY               St. Albans, WV         Scary, WV
    Scott Depot, WV           Soldier, KY            South Charleston, WV
    South Point, OH           Teays Valley, WV       White Sulphur Springs, WV
    Yates Crossing, WV

This investment is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in West Virginia, Kentucky and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless 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.

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