12/30/05 BEDMINSTER, NJ ? As the New Year approaches, Verizon Wireless is making a pledge to its customers to continue offering industry-leading products and services on the nation's most reliable wireless network. Throughout 2006, Verizon Wireless will continue its efforts to increase the capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network to deliver a positive wireless experience for its more than 49 million customers.

Verizon Wireless employs real-life test men and women who are responsible for the ongoing testing and enhancement of the network. These test men and women conduct more than 3.5 million calls annually on the Verizon Wireless network and other national wireless carriers? networks and travel more than one million miles in specially-equipped, company-owned quality test vehicles across the nation, testing network performance, call quality and data network performance.

In addition, Verizon Wireless' network reliability is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures. 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. Additionally, the company 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.

Verizon Wireless also has a fleet of ?Cells on Wheels? (COWs) and "Cells on Light Trucks" (COLTs) which are fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites that enhance coverage and capacity in a given area. COWs and COLTs are used to provide additional network calling capacity, meaning more customers can use the Verizon Wireless network concurrently during busy times, weather-related disasters or at major events that attract large crowds. All Verizon Wireless cell sites and switches nationwide are monitored 24/7 from Network Operation Centers located in New Jersey and Texas.