Verizon Wireless Customers in New Mexico Get Faster New Wireless Broadband Network.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Verizon Wireless customers in both northern and southern New Mexico can now access e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet and more at faster speeds - and upload files five to six times faster than before.

Verizon Wireless is rolling out the next generation of its high-speed broadband network in greater Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Las Cruces and Alamogordo, N.M.

Based on CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology, the enhanced wireless broadband network provides Verizon Wireless customers in areas within northern and southern New Mexico with data uplink speeds significantly faster than the company's award-winning national EV-DO network.

The company rolled out its EV-DO network in northern New Mexico in October 2006 and in southern New Mexico in December 2006.

The faster network coverage area extends from Albuquerque to the state capitol in Santa Fe, and north to Nambe in northern New Mexico. In the southern part of the state the coverage area includes Las Cruces, Alamogordo, University Park, White Sands, Chaparral, Santa Teresa and DoSa Ana.

The company's existing EV-DO network enables customers to access BroadbandAccess on their laptops, e-mail on their PDAs, and V CAST Video and Music on their wireless phones.

Verizon Wireless' national wireless broadband network, the first in the nation, is already available to more than 200 million Americans in 242 major metropolitan areas and 180 major airports from coast to coast.

"New Mexico customers are already enjoying the benefits of our broadband wireless network. We're taking wireless to the next level by introducing Rev. A technology that helps customers work even faster and enjoy a more robust wireless data experience," said Tony Heyman, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

"The launch of this next generation of our high-speed broadband network is part of our ongoing, significant investment in the state of New Mexico."

The company's flagship business data service, BroadbandAccess, will run faster and more efficiently with the new network enhancements.

Customers in enhanced coverage areas can take advantage of upload speeds that are five to six times faster than with the company's existing wireless broadband network, plus interact with Web-based applications with improved latency for a better customer experience.

The network provides Verizon Wireless customers with faster access for sending and uploading data.

For example, BroadbandAccess customers in enhanced wireless broadband coverage areas can expect average download speeds of 450-800 kilobits per second (kbps) and average upload speeds of 300-400 kbps. This translates to being able to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment - the equivalent of a small PowerPoint([R]) presentation or a large PDF file - in less than 15 seconds and upload the same size file in less than 25 seconds.

The enhanced network coverage areas allow Verizon Wireless customers to download files approximately six times faster than customers of wireless service providers who use non-EV-DO technology.

The first two devices from Verizon Wireless that take advantage of faster speeds provided by these new network enhancements are the new compact USB720 wireless modem and the AirCard 595 PC Card from Verizon Wireless.

Both devices are fully compatible and backward compatible with the company's enhanced and existing wireless broadband networks and the company's NationalAccess network (based on CDMA 1xRTT technology).

New Mexico customers interested in purchasing either device can contact their local business sales representative at 505-816-6868. The devices are also available online at www.verizonwireless.com.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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.