Verizon Wireless boosts call capacity for Ordway cell site; dispatches 20 wireless phones to support emergency crews

Media Contact Info

Bob Kelley
Robert.Kelley@VerizonWireless.com
303-694-8990

04/16/2008

What:

Verizon Wireless engaged its Significant Event Response Term (SERT) to respond to a request from the Crowley County Sheriff’s Office for additional cellphones and to boost wireless coverage for emergency crews battling wildfires in southeastern Colorado.

Adding capacity to an existing cell site in the area enhances wireless coverage so that emergency response teams and other Verizon Wireless customers can make more calls.

When:

Network technicians and 20 emergency wireless phones were dispatched to Ordway, Colo., Tuesday evening, April 15.

Where:

In southeastern Colorado, to the community of Ordway.

Why:

Verizon Wireless deploys mobile cell sites – or boosts the call-handling capacity of existing 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 invested more than $102 million in its Colorado network in 2007. The company’s ongoing network investment now totals more than $700 million in Colorado and $44 billion nationally over the past seven years.

Reliability:

In addition to its fleet of mobile equipment, Verizon Wireless’ reputation as the nation’s most reliable wireless 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.