LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested nearly $39 million in 2009 to enhance its digital network in Kentucky. The enhancements included building 15 new cell sites and upgrading equipment on several existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network.

"While other wireless service providers played catch up this year building out parts of their high-speed wireless network, we already had that 3G foundation in place across the state," said Greg Haller, president-Kentucky/Indiana/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. "Consequently, this year we focused on increasing capacity across our 3G network in Kentucky, enabling us to stay ahead of our customers' increasing demands for fast and secure wireless data services."

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested $307 million on improvements to its network in Kentucky, including the following upgrades made in 2009:


    --  Fifteen new cell sites were activated statewide to improve network
        coverage and capacity, enabling more customers to use their phones
        concurrently to make voice calls; send and receive email and text,
        picture and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality
        videos; and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer
        reception and fewer dropped calls.
    --  Performance-based equipment was installed at several cell sites across
        Kentucky, thereby doubling capacity of the company's advanced 3G
        high-speed wireless network as well as improving its speed and
        performance.
    --  Permanent backup generators were installed at 49 Kentucky cell sites to
        ensure network functionality during times of crisis.
    --  The former Cellular One network in Danville, London, Maysville,
        Richmond, Somerset and Winchester -- which included 86 cell sites -- was
        upgraded and converted to Verizon Wireless' high-speed 3G network,
        providing customers with clearer reception, fewer dropped calls and more
        coverage, including stronger in-building coverage.

About Verizon Wireless in Kentucky

In Kentucky, Verizon Wireless has more than 150 employees and seven company-owned retail locations in Lexington, Louisville, Paducah, Richmond and Somerset.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless