AT&T Boosts Mobile Broadband Network Capacity in Atlanta
Nearly 270 Cell Sites Upgraded with Additional Spectrum to Improve Connectivity and Performance of Mobile Broadband Voice and Data Applications
ATLANTA, Dec. 14, 2010 - AT&T* today announced it has added more capacity to its Atlanta mobile broadband network to improve voice and data connectivity and performance for local customers. The upgrade involved adding new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to cell sites to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase mobile broadband capacity. Through the first three quarters of 2010, AT&T added nearly 270 second and third carriers to cell sites throughout the Atlanta area.
The areas benefiting from the boost in capacity include the Atlanta metro area and outlying communities like Marietta, Conyers, Rome, Cartersville, McDonough, and Alpharetta.
"Our goal is pretty simple: we want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, or surf the Internet on your AT&T device," said Keith Holmes, vice president and general manager for AT&T's operations in Georgia. "As part of the Atlanta community, we're always looking for new opportunities to provide an enhanced customer experience and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this."
Through the first three quarters of 2010, AT&T also added mobile broadband (3G) equipment to 32 existing 2G cell sites in the Atlanta area, added 11 new cell sites in the Atlanta area and invested nearly $7.3 million in Distributed Antenna System (DAS or in-building network) projects in Georgia including the recently completed Turner Field system.
"Supporting mobile broadband growth is our No. 1 investment priority," said Sylvia Russell, president, AT&T Georgia. "By adding capacity in and around Atlanta our customers can stay connected - it's all about being where our customers want us."
Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network grew more than 5,000 percent from 2007 through 2009, largely due to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T's network. AT&T has the fastest mobile broadband network in the nation.
The expansion of spectrum for mobile broadband use is one of many ongoing network initiatives planned to enhance coverage and capacity across the country. AT&T recently upgraded mobile broadband cell sites nationwide to High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2. Plans include another upgrade to HSPA+ technology by the end of this year followed by the initial deployment next year of LTE, the next-generation of wireless technology. These advancements, when combined with an ongoing initiative to increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, are a part of AT&T's strategy to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and in the future.
AT&T also owns and operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 23,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 125,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly data plans.
For more information about AT&T's coverage in Atlanta or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.
For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE®magazine.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.
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