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Cingular Wireless Completes $190 Million Digital Network Enhancement Plan in the Carolinas; Prepared to Accelerate Growth in 2005 Additional sites, combined with AT&T Wireless sites, enhance overall coverage CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the country's largest wireless provider, announced that it installed more than 200 new cell sites throughout North and South Carolina in 2004 as part of a $190 million commitment to expand the coverage and enhance the performance for customers using its ALLOVER(SM) network. "While we are pleased with our progress, we will not stop here," said Rob Forsyth, Cingular's vice president and general manager for the Carolinas. "In 2003 we completed our advanced data and voice network, and in 2004 we increased our coverage, particularly in residential areas and in-building locations throughout North and South Carolina." Forsyth said that superior call quality and coverage are two of the most critical factors that determine customer satisfaction. "We are moving aggressively to ensure we have 'more bars in more places' to meet our customers' calling needs. Our ALLOVER(SM) network is the largest digital voice and data network in America, and the Carolinas are an important part of that network." Forsyth said Cingular's nationwide network covers more than 268 million people and growing, providing the largest high-speed data network in America. Cingular also offers the largest mobile-to-mobile calling community with more than 48 million people. 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. Currently, EDGE is nearly three times as fast as a traditional dial-up connection, giving customers average data connections ranging between 75-135 Kbps, depending on the device used. Cingular offers even faster network speeds with its UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) data network, which provides average data speeds between 220-320 Kbps, in Dallas, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Detroit. Throughout 2005 and 2006, Cingular will continue deploying UMTS/HSPDA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) throughout the country's major markets. When the network is completed, Cingular will "raise the bar" again for wireless services by offering customers the nation's fastest 3G high-speed mobile wireless data network based on international standards. 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 offers customers the ability to have simultaneous voice and data sessions, which means a customer can use a handset to make 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/ . 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 (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation 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: Sibyl Langley of Cingular Wireless, +1-770-209-0584, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

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