Cingular Wireless Completes $129 Million Investment in San Diego During 2006 -- Delivers Wireless Innovation
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New AT&T unit added 74 cell sites and expanded High-speed wireless network
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23 -- Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier and part of the new AT&T, spent $129 million in the greater San Diego area improving and expanding service during 2006. The local investment is part of the wireless company's estimated $6 billion national network capital expenditure program during 2006.
Last year, AT&T's wireless unit built 74 new cell sites, added coverage, enhanced high-speed 3G service and added network capacity. It has invested approximately $283 million and added 139 new cell sites in the area over the last two years. As a result, the company's ALLOVER network* -- the largest digital voice and data network -- has grown bigger, better and more powerful in greater San Diego.
Areas where a majority of the service improvements took place include Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Escondido, Chula Vista, Otay and along the I-5 and 1-15 freeways.
"2006 has proven to be an unprecedented year for us in greater San Diego," said Tammi Terrell, vice president and general manager for the company's SD/LV/HI markets. "We completed a major expansion initiative and added to our 3G (third-generation) high- speed network. That's an exceptional achievement that positions us for the future."
Over the last two years, Cingular has spent more than $13.5 billion nationally in an aggressive program to upgrade and expand wireless service and now gives customers access to some 45,000 cell sites -- more than any other wireless carrier in the country.
Terrell added, "And now as part of AT&T, we will continue our momentum and remain focused on delivering a strong network and pleasant in-store customer experience in 2007."
The company's 3G service is based on High-Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) technology and is the first widely available HSDPA deployment in the world. This advanced network allows high-speed access to cell phones designed for the higher speed and processes wireless data over high-speed-capable phones or on a laptop. Customers can now more quickly access e-mail, browse the internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on-the-go.
AT&T's 3G wireless network allows customers to download at average data speeds between 400-700 Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink, with bursts to more than a megabit per second. In San Diego, the company's high-speed network footprint includes more than 328 cell sites with 3G services offered in areas including Downtown San Diego, Imperial Beach and Oceanside. Nationwide, 3G service is available in more than 160 markets, including most of the top 100 major cities in the country.
* The ALLOVER network covers more than 273 million people. Coverage not available in all areas.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company in the United States and around the world, with operating subsidiaries providing services under the AT&T brand. AT&T is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to business and the U.S. leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse(SM) TV. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com.
AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand. For more information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at www.att.com/newsroom.
Web sites: www.cingular.com
www.att.com
www.att.com/newsroom
Source: Cingular Wireless
CONTACT: Art Navarro of Cingular Wireless, office, +1-562-468-6520, or wireless, +1-949-300-1329, or art.navarro@cingular.com
