Verizon Wireless Expands Digital Service in Temecula, California

[Andy]

Verizon Wireless Expands Digital Service in Temecula, California
Investment Made to Stay Ahead of Growing Demand for Wireless Calling On the Nation’s Most Reliable Network



Media Contact Info

Ken Muche
Ken.Muche@VerizonWireless.com
949-286-8193



07/06/2004

IRVINE, CA — In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for Los Angeles residents, Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless provider, has expanded its digital, high-speed network in Temecula, California, by adding a new cell site in the vicinity of Interstate 79. Commuters and tourists driving along Interstate 79 will experience increased coverage and call capacity from Butterfield Stage Road to Jedediah Smith Road, including Margarita Road and the surrounding area.

“This network expansion allows us to meet the growing need of local residents and commuters for reliable voice calls and data applications,” said Marni Walden, Verizon Wireless regional president.

In 2003, Verizon Wireless invested $600 million to further expand and enhance its wireless voice and data network in California, and safeguard network reliability. Each year, Verizon Wireless invests on average about a billion dollars every 90 days in its national network, constantly improving and expanding what already is the largest, most reliable nationwide wireless network in the United States.

The company’s ‘most reliable network’ claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women who inspired the company’s national advertising campaign. They conduct more than 300,000 call attempts monthly on Verizon Wireless’ and other national wireless carriers’ networks, while traveling over 100,000 miles of the most frequently traveled roadways nationwide in specially equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles.

Verizon Wireless’ network reliability is also supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures, which have proven particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies such as the southern California wildfires in 2003. 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. The company also operates a fleet of mobile generators and temporary cell sites, or cells-on-wheels, ready for deployment.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation’s leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 40 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

[larry]

I believe they co-located on a Sprint tower with this one.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by larry

I believe they co-located on a Sprint tower with this one.

They actually co-located, Larry...?I'm asking because I rarely see Verizon co-locate; maybe California is different

[NYCDru]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

They actually co-located, Larry...?I'm asking because I rarely see Verizon co-locate; maybe California is different

I was talking to a VZW tech out in California and he said he has seen it take as long as 6 years to get a site approved. In the California "hostile Carier Environment" colocation is sometimes the only option.

[larry]

Originally Posted by Andy84094

They actually co-located, Larry...?I'm asking because I rarely see Verizon co-locate; maybe California is different

Yes I remember reading an article about Verizon co-locating on a Sprint tower in Temecula. I assume this is the one although it might not be. Once in a blue moon Verizon and Sprint will co-locate together but hardly ever.

[larry]

Originally Posted by NYCDru

I was talking to a VZW tech out in California and he said he has seen it take as long as 6 years to get a site approved. In the California "hostile Carier Environment" colocation is sometimes the only option.

Yep especially in San Diego County and Santa Barbara. It took Sprint 5 years to get the Camp Pendleton sites approved.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by larry

Yep especially in San Diego County and Santa Barbara. It took Sprint 5 years to get the Camp Pendleton sites approved.

Larry, I still don't understand how it took Sprint 5 years to get the Camp Pendleton sites approved whereas every other carrier already served the area for a long time

[larry]

Well not exactly true. AT&T and Nextel were also on that waiting list with Sprint and didn't have complete coverage there. Cingular and Verizon somehow go their sites approved way back in the early/mid 90's before the military had changes in personnel and procedure as well as the CA Costal Commission. I think I still have the news release from Sprint about what they had to go through to get that coverage. I'll PM it to you if interested.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by larry

Well not exactly true. AT&T and Nextel were also on that waiting list with Sprint and didn't have complete coverage there. Cingular and Verizon somehow go their sites approved way back in the early/mid 90's before the military had changes in personnel and procedure as well as the CA Costal Commission. I think I still have the news release from Sprint about what they had to go through to get that coverage. I'll PM it to you if interested.

Hmm...I thought all of them served the area fully, but Sprint...at least they didn't only give Sprint a hard time
Thanks for the info, though, and if you have those news releases handy, I'd be interested...Thanks,
Andy