AT&T Expands 3G Wireless Capacity in Brooklyn and Queens
Additional Spectrum Expected to Improve Connectivity and Performance of 3G Voice and Data Applications
PROSPECT PARK/JAMAICA, N.Y. -- AT&T* today announced the completion of another key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its 3G mobile broadband network throughout New York City. As a result of the upgrade to more than 145 3G cell sites, customers in the areas of Prospect Park and Coney Island and the train stations in Woodside and Jamaica, Queens are expected to experience improved 3G wireless voice and data connectivity and performance, especially during peak hours. Capacity for the 3G network was also upgraded for the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, better known as the Triborough Bridge, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and for the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn Battery Tunnels.
The network enhancement adds new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase 3G capacity at local cell sites. The expansion helps manage ever-growing demand for mobile broadband services by allocating more network resources for AT&T's 3G network.
"We're continually optimizing the mobile broadband network across the city and that includes the recent project to add capacity in Brooklyn and Queens," said Tom DeVito, vice president and general manager for AT&T in New York and New Jersey. "Adding capacity to a cell site is like adding extra subway cars along the G train in Brooklyn and Queens; more straphangers can ride the train during rush hour."
The upgrades in Brooklyn and Queens are part of a previously announced investment plan to extend mobile broadband access in metro New York. "Delivering dependable wireless coverage for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected is our ultimate objective," said Hal Lenox, president, AT&T New York. "Our ongoing investments in this critical part of the state will help us deliver access to the wireless services that help drive economic growth."
Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network has grown more than 5,000 percent over the past three years, largely due to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T's 3G network. AT&T has the nation's fastest mobile broadband network.
The expansion of spectrum for 3G use is one of many ongoing network initiatives planned to enhance coverage and capacity across the country. AT&T recently upgraded 3G cell sites nationwide to High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2. Future plans include another upgrade to HSPA+ technology at 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's 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 140 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in more than 125 countries.
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 3G coverage in New York City or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage 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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