Verizon Wireless Lights Up 4G LTE Network in Charleston and the Surrounding Area on Thursday, July 21

CHARLESTON, SC – July 18, 2011 – Starting Thursday, Verizon Wireless customers in Charleston, S.C. will be able to surf the web, download files and share music and photos up to 10 times faster than before with Verizon Wireless’ 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.  The network launches on July 21 and will be available to customers in the following cities and towns: Charleston, Folly Beach, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Hickory Hill Plantation, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Ladson, Lincolnville, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Riverland Terrace, Seabrook Island, Sullivan’s Island, Summerville, and Wildwood.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network creates new possibilities for the way we live, work, and play, said Jerry Fountain, the president of the Carolinas/Tennessee Region for Verizon Wireless. The performance and capabilities of Verizon 4G LTE are unmatched in the marketplace, allowing customers to do things never before possible in a wireless environment.

4G LTE Smartphones, Hotspots and Laptop Modems

Verizon Wireless customers can choose from an array of 4G LTE devices, which includes:

• The LG Revolution, the newest 4G LTE smartphone to launch on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. It boasts a 4.3 inch TFT display with 480X800 resolution, a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for both stills and video chatting, a 1 GHz application processor, and Adobe Flash Player. The Revolution is an Android 2.2 powered device and will allow Mobile Hotspot support for up to 8 Wi-Fi enabled devices – available for $249.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• The DROID Charge by Samsung, which features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus display, a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, Android 2.2 platform, 1 GHz application processor, HTML 5 Web browser and Mobile Hotspot capability that lets customers share the 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices or the 3G connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices – available for $299.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphone, powered by Android™ 2.2. It includes an 8-megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording, a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities, the newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor and a Mobile Hotspot capability that lets customers share the 4G LTE connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices – available for $249.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi® 4510L and the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11, which let customers share the 4G LTE internet connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time – each available for $99.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L, which comes equipped with a fold-out USB connector, a four color LED Service Status Indicator and an internal antenna – available for $99.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• The LG VL600 4G LTE modem, which comes equipped with a fixed USB connector, an LED Service Status Indicator and an internal antenna – available for $99.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

• Pantech’s UML290 USB modem, which comes equipped with a fold-away, 180 degree rotating USB connector, an LED Service Status Indicator and a internal antenna – available for $49.99 after discounts with a new 2-year customer agreement.

Network Coverage

In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink, so customers from Isle of Palms to Summerville can enjoy the fast speeds of the world’s first large-scale 4G LTE network.  Verizon Wireless began introducing the globe’s first large-scale LTE network on December 5, 2010, in 38 major metropolitan areas, covering more than 110 million Americans. When the company turns on additional communities this week, it will offer the world’s most advanced network in over 100 metropolitan areas.

The company is rapidly building out its 4G LTE network, and is on course to deliver 4G LTE to its entire 3G wireless footprint by the end of 2013.   In addition, the company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. 

When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.  Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country, allowing customers with laptops and smartphones to download and use cool apps, from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps, rapidly browse the web to keep up with news, sports, stock quotes, Hollywood gossip and more, work on-the-go with fast file sharing and stream must-see video and customized radio stations. 

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  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.