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DES MOINES, IOWA -- Verizon Wireless, the company with the nation’s largest and most reliable wireless voice and data network, will boost network capacity at three cities along this year’s route for the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI®) July 19-25. 

The company announced it will bring a Cell on Wheels (COW) to the Greenfield tour stop and it will activate a Cell on Light Truck (COLT) for the tour stop in Indianola. These temporary cell sites are equivalent to the highest capacity stationary site presently in Iowa and are able to process thousands of calls every hour. In addition, network capacity at existing cell sites has been increased to handle nearly three times the normal call volume in the Ottumwa area.

“As the official wireless provider for RAGBRAI, we are committed to serving our customers as well as the ride organizers along this year’s route,” said Nancy B. Clark, president─Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless. “Based on our research, we anticipate each of these Iowa communities will experience more than double the usage during the ride’s tour stop than would occur during an average summer day,” Clark said.

Heading into its 37th year, RAGBRAI is the longest, largest and oldest touring bicycle ride in the world. RAGBRAI’s 10,000 riders will attract an estimated 10,000 viewers at most stops along the route.

Verizon Wireless’ fleet of COLTS and COWS provides service at special events, such as RAGBRAI, that demand additional network capacity. They also are designed for use when natural disasters or other unplanned events interrupt wireless voice and data service. For example, the company deployed a COLT this past Spring to assist with Red River flooding recovery efforts in the Fargo, N.D. area.

Verizon Wireless continues to increase capacity and augment the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Iowa and across the country. The company has invested more than $50 billion since it was formed—more than $5.5 billion on average every year—to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. More than $239 million of this investment was spent in Iowa from January 2001 through June 30 of this year on network improvements.