AT&T EXPANDS WIRELESS CAPACITY ALONG THE SHORELINE IN CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE AND MARYLAND
MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 25 -- AT&T* today announced the completion of an initiative to increase the wireless capacity of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network throughout popular beach destinations along the eastern seaboard, including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The network enhancement includes the addition of new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase 3G capacity at local cell sites. The result is an increased allocation of network resources for AT&T's 3G network to support ever-growing demand for mobile broadband services.
"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 Steve Hodges, regional president for AT&T in the Northeast. "Even when on vacation, our customers rely on staying connected with today's most advanced data and voice applications, whether they are checking in at work or spending time with family and friends."
With more than 120 cell sites upgraded, local customers are expected to experience improved 3G wireless voice and data connectivity and performance, especially during peak hours from Connecticut to Maryland. Cell sites that have been upgraded include those along Connecticut beaches in Waterford and Niantic, as well as shoreline destinations in New Haven and West Haven. New York's popular Jones Beach, and in the Hamptons covering East Hampton, Bridgehampton, South Hampton and Hampton Bays are included, too. In New Jersey, shore points between Point Pleasant Beach and Long Beach Island and from Atlantic City to Cape May, including inland towns of Brick, Pleasant Borough and portions of Lakewood Township, are also part of the network enhancement. Heading further south, Bethany and Rehoboth beaches in Delaware and Ocean City in Maryland are ready for summer.
Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network has grown more than 5,000 percent over the past three years, largely attributed to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T's 3G network, the nation's fastest.
AT&T recently completed a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation's fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T's network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future. Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available this year and in 2011 on a market by market basis as AT&T combines the new technology with the increased deployment of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic technology.
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 open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, delivering voice service in over 220 countries and data service in more than 190 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on 130 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in 115 countries.
For more information about AT&T's coverage in Northeast or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code, or even a landmark.
*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.
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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 3G 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(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) 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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