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Cingular Wireless to Invest $115 Million in North Carolina Network This Year Nation's Largest Carrier Adding More Than 230 Cell Sites to its ALLOVER(SM) Network CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless voice and data network is getting larger in North Carolina. Cingular Wireless plans to invest more than $115 million this year in its North Carolina network increasing coverage and capacity, adding new cell sites, portable generators and back-up batteries, and rolling out new data features. This local investment is part of Cingular's estimated $6.2 billion national network capital expenditure program this year. "Cingular is committed to delivering the best value in wireless -- which includes the best network footprint in North Carolina," said Rob Forsyth, vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless-Carolinas. Forsyth added, "We are continuing this commitment through our massive investment this year, giving customers more coverage where they work, live and play." Of the approximately 350 new cell sites to be added across the Carolinas in 2005, more than 230 are slated for North Carolina -- the most ambitious single-year expansion since 1996. Year-to-date, Cingular has activated 41 new cell sites in North Carolina, enhancing coverage in 23 counties. Specific enhancements which have taken place this year include: Charlotte Area: - Enhanced coverage along I-85 and N Graham Street, Harris Blvd and Old Concord Road and around South Park Mall in Charlotte. - Enhanced coverage in residential areas and schools in southwest Huntersville, NC near Beatties Ford Road. Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Area: - Enhanced coverage in residential areas along Bivins Road north of Durham, NC; along intersection of Highway 50 & 98 in North Raleigh; east of downtown Raleigh; and on St. Augustine College campus. - Enhanced coverage in residential areas along US Highway 421 and NC 87 east of Sanford, NC and along US 1 south of Sanford. - Enhanced coverage in the residential areas around Hogan Lake north of Carrboro / Chapel Hill area. - Added coverage along Highways 857 & 86 north of Hillsborough to Orange County line in the towns of Cedar Grove, Rougemont and Hillsborough. Fayetteville/ Wilmington/New Bern/Coastal Area: - Added coverage along US Highway 401 to towns of Raeford and Laurinburg with new coverage to the town of Wagram. - Enhanced coverage along US Highway 421 from Clinton to Harrells, connecting route between cities of Clinton and Wilmington. - Enhanced coverage along US Highway 17 from New Bern to Vanceboro, NC and in the residential areas of Oriental, Fairfield Harbour and Bayboro east of New Bern, NC. Enhanced in-building coverage areas north of UNC Wilmington along Kerr Ave and US 17. - Added coverage along US Highway 64 east of Williamston to Outer Banks to Jamesville, Plymouth, Roper, Creswell & Columbia.; and in downtown Madison and Mayodan. Rocky Mount/Wilson Area: - Enhanced coverage along NC Highway 58 from Wilson to Nashville, NC. Greenville/Snow Hill Area: - Enhanced coverage and capacity on ECU Campus in downtown Greenville; along Highway 903 north of Greenville; and new coverage in the community of Stokes. - Added new coverage in Snow Hill, NC and along US Highways 13/ 258. Mountains: - Enhanced coverage in growing residential areas along Cane Creek Road, connecting Fairview and Fletcher, NC, and along US Hwy 76, US Highway 123 in Westminster. - Added coverage of US Hwy 74, US Hwy 19 and US Hwy 64 in Murphy. - Enhanced coverage along State Highways 23 and 19 in Mars Hill. With nearly 46 company-owned stores and kiosks in North Carolina, Cingular also has extensive relationships with authorized agents and national retailers, giving customers over 400 additional locations to buy service. Currently, Cingular employs more than 2,300 people in the state, including more than 1,000 in its Fayetteville Customer Care Call Center and more than 960 in its two Call Centers in Greensboro. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 51.6 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(R), 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://cingular.mediaroom.com/. DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Dawn Benton of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-5305, or wireless, +1-404-202-6335, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

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