Verizon Wireless adds 58 new cell sites to serve metro Charleston

Verizon Wireless is beefing up its network coverage for the Charleston region.

The communications giant announced Wednesday that it has added 58 new cell sites to its network in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties to provide customers with clearer reception, fewer dropped calls and more coverage, including stronger in-building coverage.

The improvements allow customers more easily to send and receive e-mail, text, pictures and video messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones on the nation’s largest 4G network, according to a statement from Verizon.

In 2011 alone, Verizon Wireless invested more than $165 million in South Carolina for improvements to their network, bringing the total investment in the state to more than $1 billion since the company was formed in 2000. Its 3G and 4G networks cover 25,306 square miles of the state. South Carolina is 31,189 square miles.

Verizon’s 4G high-speed network now covers nearly 55 percent of South Carolina’s population.

Read more in tomorrow’s editions of The Post and Courier.

Reach Warren L. Wise at 937-5524 or twitter.com/warrenlancewise.