ALBANY, N.Y., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in the Capital District, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network with a new cell site in Troy. The new site improves coverage and capacity along Route 7, Route 4 and Route 2 in the downtown Troy area.

This network expansion is part of the company's aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year (more than $1 billion every 90 days) to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $30 billion - on average, $5 billion every year since the company was formed six years ago - to increase coverage and capacity, and to offer customers the most reliable service available in the nation. Services include wireless data services such as picture messaging, text messaging, and BroadbandAccess, the company's high-speed wireless broadband network geared toward mobile professionals and business customers. It provides average download speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), with bursts up to 2.4 megabits per second (mbps), and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2006 as the company added 2.3 million net new customers. Verizon Wireless is the leader in wireless customer loyalty, posting a record-breaking low customer turnover rate of 1.1% in the fourth quarter, well below the rate reported by the other major wireless carriers.

The company's 'nation's most reliable wireless network' reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "Can you hear me now" national advertising campaign. These engineers drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles over 240,000 miles on average each quarter on Interstate, US and state highways, as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 750,000 voice call attempts and more than four million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

CONTACT: John O'Malley, +1-585-321-7264 or +1-585-261-5899,
john.omalley@verizonwireless.com; or Meredith Dropkin, +1-315-233-3000,
meredithd@mragroup.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/