SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced today it invested $166 million in 2011 to enhance its existing network in Illinois, which includes the expansion of 4G LTE to Rockford and Springfield, Illinois; at the University of Illinois and five sporting venues across the Chicago area.

The company's continuing investment to support Illinois' infrastructure required for economic development and robust business growth included:

• Adding new cell sites and upgrading equipment on existing cell sites to increase coverage and capacity of the company's voice and data network;
• Installing permanent backup generators at cell sites to ensure the network remains reliable during times of crisis;
• And prepping the backbone of the network to deploy 4G LTE at urban and rural locations across the state.

"The reliability of Verizon's network is a vital key for not only businesses, research parks, start-ups and entrepreneurs, but also for consumers," said TJ Fox, president–Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless. "As Verizon continues to cover America with the blazing fast speeds 4G LTE offers, customers will depend on our network even more, changing the face of how we do business and how we rely on wireless devices."

Fox said the strategic investment will help major urban centers as well as innovative rural broadband communities across Illinois to be front and center as they bid on new businesses and host events.

Since the company was formed in 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested more than $2.1 billion on improvements to its network in Illinois.

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About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108.7 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.