COLT and COW Will Enhance Network for RAGBRAI Riders at Four Stops in Iowa

    Verizon Wireless' Portable Cell Sites Will Boost Network Capacity in

             Missouri Valley, Jefferson, Ames and North Liberty



    DES MOINES, Iowa, July 17 /EMWNews/ -- Verizon Wireless, the leading

wireless company with the most reliable voice and data network, will boost

network capacity with portable cell sites at four cities along this year's

route for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI(R))

July 20-26.



    The company announced it will activate a Cell on Light Truck (COLT) for

tour stops in Missouri Valley on July 19, Ames on July 22 and North Liberty

on July 24; and bring a Cell on Wheels (COW) to Jefferson on July 21. These

temporary cell sites are equivalent to the highest capacity stationary site

presently in Iowa and are able to process thousands of calls every hour.



    "As the official wireless provider for RAGBRAI, we are committed to

serving our customers as well as the ride organizers along this year's

route," said Nancy B. Clark, president-Great Plains Region, Verizon

Wireless. "Based on our research, we anticipate each of these Iowa

communities will experience double the usage during the ride's tour stop

than would occur during an average summer day," Clark said.



    Heading into its 36th year, RAGBRAI is the longest, largest and oldest

touring bicycle ride in the world. RAGBRAI's 10,000 riders will attract an

estimated 10,000 viewers at most stops along the route.



    Verizon Wireless' fleet of COLTS and COWS provides service at special

events, such as RAGBRAI, that demand additional network capacity. They also

are designed for use when natural disasters or other unplanned events

interrupt wireless voice and data service. The company recently deployed a

COLT at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids for flood recovery efforts and

also has used these temporary cell sites to increase capacity at the Iowa

State Fair and in Iowa City for the Iowa-Iowa State football game.



    Verizon Wireless continues to increase capacity and augment the quality

of its wireless voice and data network in Iowa and across the country. 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. More than $202.5 million of

this investment was spent in Iowa over the past seven years on network

improvements.

    About Verizon Wireless



    Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and

data network, serving 67.2 million customers. Headquartered in Basking

Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint

venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE:

VOD). For more information, go to: http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.