Investment Expands and Enhances Network to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand For Wireless Calling, Data Access, Navigation, Music and More
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., /PRNewswire/ — Wireless users in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, are making more wireless calls and using more data services thanks to Verizon Wireless’ more than $30 million network investment in 2008. That’s an average of more than $80,000 per day spent to provide customers with the reliable, high-quality service they expect from Verizon Wireless.
The company’s ongoing network investment now totals more than $275 million in New Mexico and El Paso and more than $50 billion nationally over the past eight years. The 2008 enhancements significantly increase the number of calls and data transmissions the Verizon Wireless network can handle.
“Our customers are texting, handling e-mail, downloading music, visiting Web sites, sharing pictures and videos, and making calls at a record pace. Last year in New Mexico and El Paso, wireless data traffic increased nearly 150 percent from 2007,” said Tony Heyman, regional president, Verizon Wireless.
“That’s why we built the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless network, and why we will continue to invest to make it better.”
The 2008 network investment includes adding 10 new cell sites in New Mexico and El Paso, updating and adding capacity to many others, and further improving backup power capabilities to improve network reliability and add new services.
The multi-million dollar enhancement also includes expansion of the company’s 3G high-speed wireless network throughout New Mexico and El Paso. Customers can access advanced wireless services at even faster broadband speeds, including:
-- V CAST -- a multimedia service that allows customers to stream video
clips, play cutting-edge 3D games, download full-song music tracks
over-the-air, and get turn-by-turn audible driving directions and
traffic updates with VZ Navigator(SM).
-- Mobile Broadband -- a service that allows customers to wirelessly
access their e-mail and calendars, the Internet, and other information
anytime on a secure connection.
Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the fourth quarter of 2008 with organic growth totaling 1.4 million net customer additions, essentially all of which were retail. Following the recently completed Alltel acquisition, Verizon Wireless now serves more than 80 million customers, excluding markets to be divested.