Verizon invested $600m in Mass. during 2008

Verizon Communications Inc. and Verizon Wireless said they invested $600 million in upgrading their wireline and wireless networks for their business and consumer customers in Massachusetts during 2008.

Part of that money was spent to bring Verizon Communications' FiOS-TV service to 29 Massachusetts; at the end of 2008, Verizon FiOS TV service was available in roughly 90 Massachusetts communities.

Verizon Communications also brought its high-speed Internet service to 24 Western Massachusetts communities where broadband Internet had never been available, the two companies said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless also invested heavily in improving its wireless network in Massachusetts, the press release said.

“Verizon is a major investor in the Massachusetts economy, and we demonstrated that again in 2008,” Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president in New England, said in a statement. “We are focused on building the most advanced telecommunications network in the region."

Headquartered in New York, Verizon Communications delivers broadband and other wireline and wireless services to mass market, business, government, and wholesale customers.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications and Vodaphone Group PLC of the United Kingdom.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)