TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless has activated two new cell sites in Terre Haute, which enable more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive email and text, picture and video messages, access the Internet, view high-quality videos, and download music, games and ringtones, while enjoying clearer reception and fewer dropped calls.

The new cell sites, each of which is equipped with a permanent backup generator for times of emergency, improve voice and data coverage on the east side of Terre Haute and in Riley as well as along the following major roads:


    --  State Road 46 between U.S. Route 40 and South Clingerman Street
    --  Interstate 70 between Fruitridge Street and Frye Street
    --  State Road 159 between State Road 46 and East Dallas Road

"These new cell sites were built to ensure that our customers in and around Terre Haute can continue relying on their phones for everything from making calls and sending messages to surfing the Internet and getting email," said Greg Haller, president-Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. "The most advanced device is only as good as the network it runs on. We aggressively invest in our Indiana network to increase coverage and capacity for our customers and to continue to elevate the bar in network reliability."

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $50 billion since it was formed--$5.5 billion on average every year--to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. Since 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1 billion on improvements to its wireless network in Indiana.

About Verizon Wireless in Indiana

In Indiana, Verizon Wireless has more than 550 employees and 38 company-owned retail locations in 24 cities, including Anderson, Avon, Bloomington, Carmel, Clarksville, Columbus, Elkhart, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lawrence, Mishawaka, Merrillville, Muncie, Noblesville, Plainfield, Portage, South Bend, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless