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Verizon Wireless Commits to UP, Boosts Service Near Detroit Too

Verizon Wireless announced that it has completed a major capacity improvement project for its high-speed 3G network in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan this year that will ensure the company continues to stay ahead of its customers' growing data usage on their smart phones, wireless modems and handsets.

The project entailed installing equipment on cell sites throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, increasing 3G data capacity of the network by 35 percent across the area. The enhancements will provide further value to Verizon Wireless customers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan who are looking to rely more and more on their wireless devices for accessing the Internet, social networking, viewing high-quality videos, downloading music, games and ringtones, and exchanging email.

"With so many of our customers relying on their devices for much more than just making phone calls, it's imperative that we stay ahead of their usage habits," said T.J. Fox, region president, Verizon Wireless. "It doesn't matter how many bells and whistles your smartphone offers if you cannot depend on it to keep you connected wherever you go. Verizon Wireless is committed to making sure our network has enough capacity to handle the increasing data traffic from our customers' Internet browsing, tweeting and mobile gaming."

Verizon also activated two new cell sites in Eastpointe and Harper Woods that improve voice and data capacity in portions of both cities as well as in parts of Detroit, Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Farms.

Improvements should be apparent along the following major roads:

* Gratiot Avenue between Eight Mile and 10 Mile roads
* Nine Mile Road between Gratiot Avenue and Schoenherr Road
* Stephens Road between Gratiot Avenue and Schoenherr Road
* Fisher Road between Mack Avenue and Kercheval Avenue
* Kercheval Avenue between Fisher Road and Moross Road
* Jefferson Avenue between Cadillac Boulevard and Conner Street
* Mack Avenue between St. Jean Street and Cadieux Road
* Conner Street between Kercheval Avenue and Warren Avenue
 
The new cell sites, each of which are equipped with a permanent backup generator for times of emergency, enable more Verizon Wireless customers to rely on their wireless devices for social networking, Internet browsing, downloading apps and music, exchanging email and text, picture and video messages, watching high-quality videos and making calls.

The company¹s ongoing network investment in Michigan now totals more than $1.5 billion. Nationally, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $60 billion since it was formed -- $5.7 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services.

In Michigan, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,100 employees and 65 company-owned retail locations in more than 50 cities.

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