Gary Airport and Surrounding Community to Benefit From Verizon Wireless Network Enhancements

New Cell Site Means Clearer Reception, Fewer Dropped Calls

GARY, Ind. , April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the highest customer loyalty, has activated a new cell site in Gary , which will enable more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text, picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

The new cell site improves coverage at Gary Airport, along Interstate 90 (Indiana Toll Road) near the airport, and in the surrounding area, including along U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 20 (West 5th Avenue) as far east as Grant Street and as far west as Colfax Street . Coverage is also improved north of the Gary Airport Terminal, along Industrial Highway, and as far south as West 15th Avenue.

"This network expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to meet the growing needs of our customers and to provide them with the reliable, high quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless," said T.J. Fox , region president for Verizon Wireless..

"The value we offer our customers is closely tied to our industry-leading customer retention," Fox said. "Wireless consumers today understand that value is not defined by price alone. A major reason our customers choose Verizon Wireless and stay with us is because we offer the nation's most reliable network."

The new cell site in Gary is part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Indiana and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $50 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. In 2008, the company invested more than $106.5 million in its Indiana network.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J. , with more than 85,000 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