In anticipation of a surge of wireless calls by thousands of baseball fans during the championship series, Verizon Wireless has beefed up its local network capacity by placing a temporary mobile cell site called a COLT (Cell on Light Truck) near Citizens Bank Park.

The COLT is a fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell site that enhances wireless capacity, allowing more customers to use their wireless phones concurrently to make calls, send and receive text and picture messages, surf the Web and download music directly to their phones. Laptop users will even be able to use BroadbandAccess, the company’s wireless broadband service, to surf the Web.

“During special events, traffic on our network can increase significantly,” said Ed Chan, executive director of network for Verizon Wireless’ Philadelphia Tri-State region. “With the activation of this temporary cell site in addition to the permanent sites we have in the area, our network is well prepared to handle the expected increase in cellphone and laptop computer use at the stadium complex. We want to ensure that Phillies fans can make that long-awaited call to their friends and families once the ‘Fightins’ win the series.”

The temporary cell site is part of Verizon Wireless’ continuous effort to increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in the Philadelphia Tri-State region and across the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services such as wireless broadband.

The company spent more than $235 million in 2007 to enhance services and coverage in the Philadelphia Tri-State region, bringing the total network investment in the region to more than $1.5 billion since 2000.

Verizon Wireless’ mobile cell sites are on constant standby to provide additional wireless network capacity and coverage in emergencies and at highly attended events.