REG-VerizonCommunication: Verizon Reports Strong Wireless Customer Growth in Q4 <Origin Href="QuoteRef">VZ.N</Origin>

Verizon CommunicationsAnnouncement

09/12/2014 07:10

Verizon Reports Strong Wireless Customer Growth and 4G Device Adoption in   
                                Fourth Quarter                                 

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2014 -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ)
announced today that it continues to see strong momentum for wireless customer
growth in the fourth-quarter 2014.

The company reported very strong customer demand for 4G smartphones and tablets
on its More Everything shared data plans on the nation's most reliable wireless
network in the fourth quarter to date.

Verizon is driving retail postpaid gross additions that are higher both
sequentially and year over year. New device launches are driving significant
customer phone upgrades. These are on pace to total as much as 9.5 percent of
the postpaid customer base by the end of the quarter.

Approximately three out of four upgrades were strategic or high-quality -
meaning they were from a basic phone or a 3G smartphone or a high-value
customer. The percentage of customers choosing the Verizon Edge
equipment-installment plan option so far in fourth-quarter 2014 is tracking to
24 percent, or double the rate of third-quarter 2014, which was approximately
12 percent of total phone activations.

As the company is accelerating the upgrades of high-quality customers to 4G,
total retail postpaid disconnects are trending higher both sequentially and
year over year in this highly competitive and promotion-filled fourth quarter.

The company expects that the fourth-quarter impacts of its promotional offers,
together with the strong customer volumes this quarter, will put short-term
pressure on its wireless segment EBITDA and EBITDA service margin (non-GAAP,
based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as
well as its consolidated EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) and earnings per share.

In wireline, FiOS continues to drive consumer-revenue growth, while global
enterprise and wholesale growth remain under both secular and macro-economic
pressure. The company reiterated that it remains on track to achieve full-year
expansion of the wireline segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP).

The company also reiterated that capital spending for 2014 is estimated to be
around $17 billion.

Verizon will report fourth-quarter 2014 results on Jan. 22.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline
communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale
customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network,
with more than 106 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides
converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's
most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions
to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with more than $120
billion in 2013 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 178,500. For
more information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and
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Forward-Looking Statements

In this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements
are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning
our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking
statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "hopes" or similar expressions. For those statements,
we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), could affect future results and
could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements: the ability to realize the expected benefits of our
transaction with Vodafone in the timeframe expected or at all; an adverse
change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited
ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the
cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing;
significantly increased levels of indebtedness as a result of the Vodafone
transaction; changes in tax laws or treaties, or in their interpretation;
adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies; material adverse
changes in labor matters, including labor negotiations, and any resulting
financial and/or operational impact; material changes in technology or
technology substitution; disruption of our key suppliers' provisioning of
products or services; changes in the regulatory environment in which we
operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our
networks; breaches of network or information technology security, natural
disasters, terrorist attacks or acts of war or significant litigation and any
resulting financial impact not covered by insurance; the effects of competition
in the markets in which we operate; changes in accounting assumptions that
regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes
in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact
on earnings; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment
returns on plan assets; and the inability to implement our business strategies.

SOURCE Verizon Communications Inc.

CONTACT:  Bob Varettoni, 908-559-6388, robert.a.varettoni@verizon.com




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