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Republican National Convention Delegates Drive Record Data Usage on Verizon Wireless Network

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The votes are in and the results show that the 45,000 Republican National Convention (RNC) attendees, media representatives and delegates used wireless devices to access the Internet and to send and deliver e-mail and picture and video messages in record numbers in the downtownSaint Paul area this week. The Verizon Wireless cell site at the Xcel Energy Center and those cell sites in the surrounding downtown area ofSaint Paul completed more than 4 million additional data transmissions, an increase of more than 245 percent, during the five days of the convention week than during a normal week. These same cell sites also carried 1.8 million additional voice calls, 82 percent more than a normal week.

"It's clear that wireless devices are an essential communications tool for convention-goers, and our network was ready," said Nancy B. Clark, president -- Great Plains region, Verizon Wireless. "Our customers in downtownSaint Paul shared the convention week's historical events by text, e-mail, picture and video messaging and on the Internet over our high-speed network. This usage reflects a trend for communicating by data as well as voice calls."

Verizon Wireless invested $6.4 million in network improvements for the RNC, including deploying four portable cell sites in high-demand locations and adding in-building cell sites at the Xcel Energy Center and theMinneapolis Convention Center. The company has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed -- more than $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. Through mid-year 2008, more than $475 million has been invested on network improvements inMinnesota since 2001.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered inBasking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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

Tags: ,TLS,MLM,CPR,SVY,MN-Verizon-RNC-Usage

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