Verizon Investing $1.8 Million to Better Serve Delaware's Smyrna Area Customers

SMYRNA, Del. - Verizon customers in the Smyrna area of Kent County will soon have improved communications as the result of a $1.8 million dollar investment the company is making in its local call-switching center.

Verizon is doubling the size of its Smyrna facility to make room for additional advanced network equipment that will increase the capacity and reliability of the Verizon telecommunications network. The company expects to complete the work by the first quarter of 2005.

"Because of Verizon's investment in Delaware, an advanced broadband, fiber-optic network now serves every corner of the state from Rockland to Rehoboth," said Joshua W. Martin III, president of Verizon Delaware. "The ability to build, enhance and maintain complex networks is at the very heart of our business. Verizon has played a key role in Delaware's economic development for more than a century. We intend to be a part of Delaware's telecommunications future in the 21st century and beyond."

Martin said Verizon's commitment to improve Delaware's telecommunications infrastructure includes:
• Investment of nearly $600 million in the company's Delaware network since 1995

• A 15 percent increase in fiber deployment in the state - from 119,464 fiber miles at the end of the end of September 2002 to 137,742 at the end of September 2003

• Deployment of nearly 400 SONET (synchronous optical network) rings in Verizon's Delaware network. SONET rings provide multiple routes for high-speed voice and data services and are self-healing, automatically rerouting telecommunications transmissions in the event of a service disruption.

"Verizon is the only telecommunications company committed to significant investment in Delaware's future," Martin said. "Verizon's Delaware network is open to residents and businesses as well as our competitors. We welcome competition in the local marketplace, and any company that sincerely wants to compete here can do so."

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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