It's the network

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Verizon Network Facts

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation’s most reliable wireless network*, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Leveraging its greatest asset - its network - Verizon Wireless continues to lead the industry by offering the highest quality products and services while introducing innovative technology solutions.

Network Leadership

• 51.3 million customers
• 169 switching facilities and over 24,000 cell sites
• Network reaches over 250 million Americans
• More than $5B annual investment to maintain and expand its high-quality network nationwide

Network Powered Services and Features

• 100 percent digital network, delivering the highest quality voice and data services
• NationalAccess- based on 1XRTT technology, provides wireless data with the benefit of mobility.
• Nationwide TXT Messaging - a two-way short messaging service
  • In Q4 2005, Verizon Wireless customers sent and received more than 7.4 billion text messages through its network, with an average of over 2.4 billion messages a month.
• Get It Now^® service - Verizon Wireless was the first wireless service provider in the U.S. to offer downloadable applications over the air using BREW™ (Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless™) technology.
  • Between October 2005 and December 2005, customers downloaded 35 million Get It Now games, exclusive content, ring tones, ringback tones and more
• Picture Messaging - an intuitive service, requiring just a few easy clicks to take and send a photo
  • Between October 2005 and December 2005, customers exchanged more than 134 million picture and video messages over its nationwide network
  • Customers now share an average of 44 million picture messages per month
• BroadbandAccess - Based on CDMA EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) technology
  • Verizon Wireless, the first to build a national wireless broadband network, launched BroadbandAccess in October 2003 and announced a national rollout in January 2004
  • Offering wireless Internet connections at broadband-like speeds
  • Covering approximately 148 million Americans, coast-to-coast.
  • Currently available in 181 major metropolitan markets (100,000 population and higher, with more than half of the population covered by EV-DO network)
  • Download complex files and large email attachments easily at average speeds of 400-700 kbps. Speed claim based on network tests with 5MB FTP data files, without compression. Actual speeds and coverage may vary.
• V CAST - Also based on CDMA EV-DO technology, V CAST is the nation's first consumer wireless broadband multimedia service
  • V CAST from Verizon Wireless brings high-quality video, 3D games and music straight to hot new phones.
  • Currently available in all markets where BroadbandAccess is offered
• V CAST Music - Launched in January 2006, V CAST Music runs on the Verizon Wireless broadband network.
  • V CAST Music is the world's most comprehensive mobile music service.
  • Customers can download music over the air directly to their wireless phones and to their Windows XP PCs, and can transfer new and existing digital music from the PC to their wireless phone.
  • V CAST Music lets customers immerse themselves in their favorite music with music videos, artist alerts, album art and more.
  • One million songs will be available on V CAST Music by spring

Network Reliability
Verizon Wireless' network reliability is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures.

• Redundancy
  The Verizon Wireless network is built for reliability in emergencies, with battery back-up power at all facilities and for additional reliability, generators installed at all switching facilities, and many cell site locations. The company also owns a fleet of portable generators that can be deployed to provide emergency power during extended power outages to those cell sites without permanent generators.
• Rapid Disaster Response - COLTs
  Verizon Wireless "Cell on Light Trucks" (COLTs) can process thousands of calls every hour in the event cell sites or other key communications equipment are damaged or disabled by a community disaster. The 25,000 pound vehicle features two retractable masts, a microwave antenna to link network components, an emergency power generator and a small office. The COLT is also fully equipped with resources needed during emergencies including equipment, fuel, electrical generators, food, water and cots.
• Portable Cell Sites - COWs Verizon Wireless "Cell on Wheels" (COW) are fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites that enhance coverage and capacity in a given area. It can accommodate both voice and CDMA data services.
• 24/7 Network Operations Centers
  Verizon Wireless has two network operation centers located in New Jersey and Texas, to monitor all cell sites and switches across its nationwide network.

Network Quality Testing
Verizon Wireless dedicates a team of technical professionals, real life "test men and women" across the country, to monitor and test the network every day to ensure efficient operation.

• Quality testing teams drive approximately 50 specially equipped vehicles some 100,000 miles of roads, boulevards, and highways (the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide as identified by the states’ Departments of Transportation) to make sure the signal is clear, calls go through the first time and stay connected. Every roadway is traveled at least once each month.
• Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make over 300,000 call attempts monthly on our network and the networks of other carriers.
• Every handset model used on the Verizon Wireless network goes through a rigorous laboratory testing process to ensure the device delivers wireless service at peak performance levels.

* Reliability is based on network tests that have consistently shown the number of ineffective attempts and lost calls for the Verizon Wireless national network, and in major metropolitan centers and some remote areas, is lower than any other national carrier.