Verizon Wireless Invests $40 Million in South Dakota
2011 Network Spending Supports Growing Company & Consumer Demand
SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested $40 million in 2011 to enhance its network in South Dakota, including the expansion of its groundbreaking 4G LTE network to Sioux Falls and Rapid City, giving more South Dakotans access to the most advanced 4G LTE network in the world.
The company's continuing investment to support South Dakota's infrastructure required for economic development and robust business growth included:
-- Adding new cell sites and upgrading equipment on existing cell sites to
increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and data network;
-- Installing permanent backup generators at cell sites to ensure the
network remains reliable during times of crisis;
-- And, prepping the backbone of the network to deploy 4G LTE at urban and
rural locations across the state.
"We know South Dakotans depend on their smartphones, tablets, laptop modems and other wireless devices to stay connected, to be more productive and for entertainment," said Seamus Hyland, president-Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless. "As Verizon continues to cover America with the blazing fast speeds 4G LTE offers, customers will depend on our network even more, thereby changing the face of how we do business and utilize our wireless devices."
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is available in 195 US markets and covers more than 200 million people, providing the fastest 4G network in the United States. Full nationwide deployment of the company's 4G LTE network is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2013.
Verizon Wireless has invested more than $70 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide networks and to add new services. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $296 million in its network in South Dakota.
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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108.7 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit 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.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
CONTACT: Karen Smith of Verizon Wireless, +1-763-595-2511, Karen.smith@verizonwireless.com; or Debbie Hilt, +1-402-292-5553, ext. 6, Debbie@alberscommunications.com, for Verizon Wireless