NEW YORK-Verizon Wireless launched wireless service in Little Rock, Ark., and expanded its coverage in Manhattan.
The carrier’s first three wireless stores in Little Rock will open Dec. 15, with two more store locations expected to start up in January, 2006. Best Buy and other indirect locations also will begin offering Verizon Wireless phones and service plans.
According to the company, it will have invested up to $200 million by the end of 2006 to offer service in central Arkansas. About 107 cell sites are slated to be complete by the end of the year, with a total of 175 to be in service by the close of 2006. Initial service will be available in Little Rock, North Little Rock and some communities surrounding the metropolitan area, and it will connect east along Interstate 40 to Verizon service in Memphis.
Verizon Wireless currently relies on a reciprocal roaming agreement with Alltel Corp. to provide service in central Arkansas. The 10-year roaming agreement was signed in 2000.
In Manhattan, Verizon Wireless said it added new cell sites to improve coverage and capacity in parts of the Upper West Side, Upper East Side and in Midtown, Columbus Circle and sections of Central Park.
Verizon Wireless’ parent company, Verizon Communications Inc., recently moved back into its Lower Manhattan headquarters from its previous Midtown location. The company had been forced out of its historic building by the Sept. 11 attacks, when the former 7 World Trade Center building collapsed against the south and east sides of Verizon’s building. The carrier has spent the last four years repairing the building. Verizon recently received an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for its work in restoring the building.
