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Cingular Wireless Quickly Responds After Hurricane Hits the Gulf Coast Network Operating at more than 93% in its Coverage Areas throughout the Gulf MOBILE, Ala., July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Following Hurricane Dennis' impact yesterday on the Gulf Coast bringing heavy winds and rain, the Cingular Wireless network is certainly weathering the effects. Its network is already operating at more than 93% in its coverage areas throughout the Gulf States, which span Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Northwest area of Florida. In addition, virtually all Cingular retail stores are open for business, and the Cingular Customer Care centers in the area are operating business as usual. In the Pensacola market, cell sites affected by the storm are primarily due to commercial power outages and T-1 connection disruptions. The Cingular network is designed and built to withstand hurricane-force winds. Cell sites are backed up by high-capacity batteries or emergency generators, ensuring a secure source for power if needed since electrical outages are prevalent during storms. Late last night, Cingular dispatched more than 350 field technicians and network personnel to support restoration efforts in any impacted areas. More than 120 emergency generators have been distributed, many of them from the company's rapid response staging areas located in Mobile and New Orleans. "Wireless devices are a critical communications tool for staying in touch with loved ones and colleagues, especially during emergency situations. We're pleased with our network's performance and are working diligently to ensure any impacted areas are restored as quickly as possible," said Joe Larussa, vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless-Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Northwest Florida. "Our extensive preparation before the storm has enabled us to quickly and efficiently respond to the hardest hit areas." Extensive Network Preparation Critical Some of Cingular's network preparation measures included: - Securing more than 400 generators for rapid deployment to cell sites after the storm; - Reserving more than 48,000 gallons of additional fuel; - Conducting ongoing readiness drills to ensure network facilities and personnel were ready-to-go at a moment's notice; - Boosting staff at regional switching facilities 24/7 to support restoration efforts; - Initiating two rapid response staging areas, housing emergency equipment for quick deployment to impacted areas; - Establishing lines of communications with all wireline and power companies to ensure quick coordination after the storm; - Staging numerous COWs and COLTs (portable cell sites) throughout the region to increase wireless coverage in affected areas; - Coordinating additional field technicians and contractors from other states to assist in critical areas; and, - Boosting cell site capacity in anticipation of increased call volumes. Phones Provided to Local and State Emergency Agencies Cingular is also focused on providing support to those communities in need. Cingular has already distributed more than 300 wireless phones to state and local agencies including the Mobile Fire and Police Departments, City of Mobile, United Way of Alabama as well as the local Red Cross for use during the storm. The company also readied two mobile calling vans to provide free calls to the public in hardest hit areas. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 50.4 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: Media, Dawn Benton, +1-404-236-5305, or wireless, +1-404-202-6335, or , or Caroline Crowe, +1-678-867-4330, or wireless, +1-404-808-8254, or , both of Cingular Wireless Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

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