COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, the wireless company with the highest customer loyalty, has activated two new cell sites in Franklin County, which will 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.

One cell site, which is southwest of Grove City near Darbydale and the intersection of State Highway 665 and County Highway 3, improves coverage along Norton Road and Lukens Road as far north as Kropp Road, and along Harrisburg Georgesville Road as far south as Gay Road. Coverage is also improved along State Highway 665 as far east as U.S. Highway 62 (Harrisburg Pike) and as far west as County Highway 22 (W. Jefferson Kiousville Road). Visitors to the Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park and Hickory Hills Golf Club within these boundaries will also enjoy clearer reception.

In Worthington, the new cell site near the intersection of State Highway 161 (East Granville Road) and Proprieters Road improves network capacity (the number of people who can make wireless phone calls concurrently) in the area as far east as Huntley Road/Sinclair Road and as far west as U.S. Highway 23 (High Street). In addition, capacity is improved as far north as Crandall Drive and as far south as Park Boulevard.

"Network reliability is the No. 1 reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless," said Roger Tang, president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so that it remains the most reliable in the nation."

These new cell sites are part of Verizon Wireless' continual effort to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Ohio and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $48 billion since it was formed -- $5.5 billion on average every year -- to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services. In 2008, the company invested more than $258 million in its Ohio network improvements.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 83.7 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 (NYSE 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