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Cingular Wireless Completes $203 Million Digital Network Enhancement Plan in Washington, Prepared to Accelerate Growth in 2005 Additional sites, combined with AT&T Wireless sites, give Washington outstanding wireless coverage SEATTLE, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the country's largest wireless provider, announced that it has installed more than 110 cell sites throughout Washington and Northern Idaho in 2004 as part of a $203 million commitment to expand its digital wireless network performance and coverage. Combined with the cell sites from the recently completed merger with AT&T Wireless, Cingular's Washington/Northern Idaho area now has almost 1,500 cell sites. "While we are pleased with our progress, we will not stop here," said Mike Maxwell, Cingular's vice president and general manager. "In 2003, we made the commitment to complete our advanced data and voice network across the nation, and in 2004 we focused on increasing our coverage, particularly in residential areas and in-building locations, by adding cell sites and an additional GSM spectrum band and enhancing data services for our customers. "We recognize that superior call quality and coverage are two of the most critical factors that determine customer satisfaction. We are moving aggressively to continue what we began earlier this year to ensure we have 'more bars in more places.' Our ALLOVER(SM) network* is the largest digital voice and data network in America. We have an even larger commitment planned for 2005." Highlights of the many 2004 enhancements include the following areas: - Enhanced GSM service in the Puget Sound area: Deployed an 850 MHz overlay to the existing 1900 MHz GSM network to greatly improve the overall coverage in the Puget Sound area. The 850 MHz spectrum improved in-building coverage (business and residential areas), added more capacity to the network, and improved call quality. In addition, new antenna sites were added to enhance service for residents and businesses in many areas of Washington and Northern Idaho. - New wireless service: Provided customers with new wireless service where they work and live in Chewelah, Colville, Eatonville and Raymond - New highway wireless service: Extended existing wireless services to new areas, such as Highway 395 from Deer Park to Kettle Falls; Highway 101 from Cosmopolis to downtown Raymond; Highway 7 connecting Eatonville to Highway 161; I-90 from Coeur d'Alene to Wolflodge Creek in Idaho; and Highway 41 from Spirit Lake to Old Town - Enhanced highway and road service: Created wireless service for travelers of Highway 182 from Richland to Pasco; Yelm Highway in Thurston County; Highway 525 and Highway 20 on Whidbey Island; Highway 162 in Pierce County from Alderton to South Prairie; Highway 101 from Leland to Quilcene - New technologies: Added new high-speed UMTS data service in Seattle, including SeaTac airport and E911 Phase II service in 21 counties. Maxwell said Cingular's nationwide network covers more than 268 million people and is growing, providing the largest high-speed data network in America. Cingular also offers the largest free mobile-to-mobile calling community with more than 46 million people. The integration of Cingular's wireless network with that of AT&T Wireless will continue through 2005, which will result in some consolidation of sites. However, the vast majority will remain, to be woven into a single network that is an integral part of the company's network advantage. Cingular's network growth exclusively relies on advanced GSM/EDGE technology. GSM is the world standard for wireless communication, used by more than a billion people in 200-plus countries. In fact, more than 70 percent of the world's total wireless market is GSM. What GSM delivers for voice, EDGE delivers for data. EDGE is a high-speed wireless data service that gives customers true "third generation" (3G) wireless data services with data speeds typically three times faster than what was available with GPRS. With the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, Cingular offers even faster network speeds with AT&T Wireless' UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) data network, which was implemented earlier this year in selected cities, including Seattle. "The Pacific Northwest is an important part of our ALLOVER(SM) network*," said Maxwell. "We chose Seattle as one of our first cities to rollout our high-speed data network because some of the nation's most tech savvy customers are in this city. We want to continue to meet their needs." Cingular will build on that deployment, and in November, announced plans to deploy the nation's fastest high-speed mobile wireless data network based on international standards. Called UMTS with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), this 3G technology will offer average data speeds between 400-700 kilobits per second and bursts to several megabits per second on capable devices. Cingular's UMTS/HSDPA offering will allow customers the ability to have simultaneous voice and data sessions, which means a customer can use a handset to make a call at the same time they are checking their e-mail or browsing the Internet at high speeds. For more information about Cingular, please contact 1-866-CINGULAR or visit http://www.cingular.com/ . * Coverage not available in all areas. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 49 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation - the ALLOVER(SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom . DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Anne Marshall of Cingular Wireless, +1-425-580-4972, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

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