5th Sep 2007 21:58
Verizon Wireless: \* TWhat: Verizon Wireless tapped its fleet of emergency mobile equipment yet again this year, this time in response to requests from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to boost wireless coverage for emergency crews battling the 24-thousand-acre Gray's Creek fire near Council, Idaho. The Cell on Wheels, or "COW," is a self-contained mobile cell site designed specifically for rapid and short-term network response. The COW enhances wireless coverage so that emergency response teams and other Verizon Wireless customers can make more calls. When: COW was deployed from Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday, September 4. Where: At the Emergency Command Center near the Adams County Fairgrounds in Council, approximately 120 miles north of Boise, Idaho. Why: Verizon Wireless uses mobile cell sites to enhance its network when there is a natural disaster or other unplanned event that calls for additional cell coverage and capacity. So far this year, Verizon Wireless has deployed mobile cell sites and other equipment to more than a dozen wildfire incidents around the country. Additionally, the company has donated more than 600 wireless phones with service to aid public safety officials and others. NetworkInvestment: Verizon Wireless has invested more than $101 million in its Idaho network in the past five years. Reliability: In addition to its fleet of mobile equipment, Verizon Wireless' nationwide network reliability is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures. This has proven particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies. Standard Verizon Wireless network-reliability features include battery back-up power at all facilities as well as generators installed at all switching facilities and many cell site locations. B-roll: B-roll and high-quality still photographs of Verizon Wireless' fleet of COWs can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.\* T £ About Verizon Wireless £ Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wirelessvoice and data network, serving 62.1 million customers. The largestU.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based onrevenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J.,with 67,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture ofVerizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD) (LSE:VOD).Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. Topreview and request broadcast-quality video footage andhigh-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to theVerizon Wireless Multimedia Library atwww.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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