--Three Year, $138 Million Investment Brings Verizon Wireless High-Speed Network to Ashland, Bend, Klamath Falls, Medford, Central Point and Redmond--

In a continuing effort to provide the most reliable wireless service for local residents, Verizon Wireless has expanded its digital network to include the Oregon cities of Bend, Redmond, Medford, Ashland, Central Point, and Klamath Falls. The expansion increases the company’s coverage in the region by more than 3,500 square miles.

“This is an important expansion for residents and travelers to Southern Oregon whom we’ve been serving through roaming partners,” said Kelley Kurtzman, Verizon Wireless regional president.  “Now we can offer local residents and businesses all the benefits of Verizon Wireless’ network.  In addition, we are opening retail locations in Bend, Medford, and Klamath Falls to make it more convenient for local customers to shop for and choose our wireless products and services.”

The company will be launching its enhanced high-speed wireless broadband service first in Bend, with launch in the other expansion cities within three months.  The technology enables customers to access e-mail on their laptops, e-mail on their PDAs, and VCAST Video and Music on their wireless phones.

With average access speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), users can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment – the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file – in about 20 seconds. 

The company’s network expansion into southern Oregon took three years to complete and an investment of approximately $38 million.  The company has invested more than $300 million in its Oregon network over the last five years increasing coverage and capacity.  This network expansion is part of the company’s aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year - more than $1 billion every 90 days.

“We are so confident in our network that we are inviting new customers to take a 30-day test drive for themselves,” said Kurtzman.  “If they are not completely satisfied with their experience they can take their number to another carrier and we will refund their money for calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes.”

The company’s ‘most reliable national network’ claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women who inspired the company’s national advertising campaign.  These engineers drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles over 240,000 miles on average each quarter on Interstate, US and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 750,000 call attempts and more than four million data tests quarterly on the Verizon Wireless’ network and the networks of other carriers.

Verizon Wireless’ national network reliability is also supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures, which have proven particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies. Standard Verizon Wireless network reliability includes 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 for emergencies.  

“This is an important expansion for residents and travelers to Southern Oregon whom we’ve been serving through roaming partners,” said Kelley Kurtzman, Verizon Wireless regional president.  “Now we can offer local residents and businesses all the benefits of Verizon Wireless’ network.  In addition, we are opening retail locations in Bend, Medford, and Klamath Falls to make it more convenient for local customers to shop for and choose our wireless products and services.”

The company will be launching its enhanced high-speed wireless broadband service first in Bend, with launch in the other expansion cities within three months.  The technology enables customers to access e-mail on their laptops, e-mail on their PDAs, and VCAST Video and Music on their wireless phones.

With average access speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps), users can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment – the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file – in about 20 seconds. 

The company’s network expansion into southern Oregon took three years to complete and an investment of approximately $38 million.  The company has invested more than $300 million in its Oregon network over the last five years increasing coverage and capacity.  This network expansion is part of the company’s aggressive multi-billion dollar network investment each year - more than $1 billion every 90 days.

“We are so confident in our network that we are inviting new customers to take a 30-day test drive for themselves,” said Kurtzman.  “If they are not completely satisfied with their experience they can take their number to another carrier and we will refund their money for calls, equipment, activation fee and taxes.”

The company’s ‘most reliable national network’ claim is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women who inspired the company’s national advertising campaign.  These engineers drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles over 240,000 miles on average each quarter on Interstate, US and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets. Test vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than 750,000 call attempts and more than four million data tests quarterly on the Verizon Wireless’ network and the networks of other carriers.

Verizon Wireless’ national network reliability is also supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures, which have proven particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies. Standard Verizon Wireless network reliability includes 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 for emergencies.