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Verizon Wireless has said that it has beefed up its network capacity for Kentucky Derby Festival events and the big race itself by activating two temporary cell sites.

This will allow more customers to use their wireless handsets concurrently to make calls; send and receive email and text; picture and messages; access the Internet; view high-quality videos; and download music, games and ringtones, according to the company.

“The Kentucky Derby is typically one of the busiest events of the year for Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless’ network across the state,” said Greg Haller, president for Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan Region at Verizon Wireless. 

For this major event, the company has increased voice capacity by 100 percent and 3G data capacity -- that lets customers rely on their phones for just about everything else -- by 155 percent. 

Temporary cell sites are fully functional, generator-powered mobile cell sites. Company officials said that they enhance wireless capacity in a given area, and work especially well in dense areas with large crowds. 

Additionally, the company has upgraded equipment on existing cell sites to add more voice and data capacity near where Derby Festival events are held and at Churchill Downs.

Since 2000, Verizon Wireless has invested $307 million on improvements to its wireless network in Kentucky.  The company indicated that it plans to spend $29 million on its Kentucky network in 2010.

The company also announced that in order to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access in New London County, Connecticut, it has expanded its local network.