Mobile Cell Site Sent to the Pepper Fire to Boost Wireless Service

Verizon Wireless' Cell On Wheels (COW) activated in Sacramento, New Mexico, to help emergency crews make more calls

SACRAMENTO, N.M., April 23 /PRNewswire/ --
What: Verizon Wireless deployed a Cell on Wheels to boost wireless
coverage and capacity for emergency crews battling the
Pepper Fire in Otero County, NM.

When: COW in-service and processing calls effective April 23, 2008

Where: In the rural Southern New Mexico community of Sacramento,
NM.

Why: Verizon Wireless deploys mobile cell sites to enhance its
network when there is a natural disaster or other unplanned
event. In the past year, Verizon Wireless has deployed
mobile cell sites and other equipment to more than a dozen
wildfire incidents around the country. Additionally, the
company has provided more than 650 wireless phones with
service to aid public safety officials and others.

Network
investment: Verizon Wireless has invested more than $245 million in its
wireless network in New Mexico and El Paso over the past
seven years.

Reliability: In addition to its fleet of mobile equipment, Verizon
Wireless' reputation as the nation's most reliable network
is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance
measures. This has proven particularly valuable during
natural disasters and other emergencies across the country.

Standard Verizon Wireless network-reliability features
include battery back-up power at all facilities as well as
generators installed at all switching facilities and many
cell site locations.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 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
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Jenny Weaver of Verizon Wireless, +1-480-763-6321,
Jenny.Weaver@VerizonWireless.com

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

2008-04-23 20:23:02 0343846 PRNEWSWIRE