SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested more than $209 million in 2009 to enhance its digital network in Michigan. The enhancements included building 45 new cell sites and upgrading equipment on hundreds of existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and 3G high-speed wireless network.

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.4 billion on improvements to its network in Michigan, including the following upgrades made in 2009:


    --  Forty-five 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 hundreds of cell sites
        across Michigan, thereby increasing 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 106 Michigan cell sites to
        ensure network functionality during times of crisis.

About Verizon Wireless in Michigan

In Michigan, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,100 employees and 69 company-owned retail locations in more than 40 cities, including Allen Park, Alpena, Alpine Twp., Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Battle Creek, Bay City, Brighton, Burton, Canton, Clinton Twp., Dearborn, Detroit, East Lansing, Escanaba, Farmington Hills, Fenton, Flint, Fort Gaylord, Gratiot, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Highland Park, Holland, Houghton, Iron Mountain, Jackson, Kentwood, Lake Orion, Lansing, Livonia, Marquette, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Northville, Novi, Okemos, Petoskey, Pontiac, Portage, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Saginaw, St. Clair Shores, St. Joseph, Southfield, Taylor, Traverse City, Troy, Utica, Warren and Westland.

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