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Cingular Wireless to Invest $50 Million in South Carolina Network This Year Nation's Largest Carrier Adding More Than 115 Cell Sites to its ALLOVER(SM) Network COLUMBIA, S.C., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless voice and data network is getting larger in South Carolina. Cingular Wireless plans to invest more than $50 million this year in its South 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. "Every year Cingular invests millions in its network and this year is no exception with a large part of the expansion taking place in South Carolina," said Rob Forsyth, vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless- Carolinas. Forsyth added, "Cingular is committed to delivering best-in-class coverage and the overall best value in wireless." Of the approximately 350 new cell sites to be added across the Carolinas in 2005, more than 115 are slated for South Carolina -- the most ambitious single year expansion since 1996. Year-to-date, Cingular has activated 28 new cell sites in South Carolina, enhancing coverage in nearly 19 counties. In South Carolina, specific enhancements include: Florence County: - Enhanced coverage along Old River Road, E Seven Mile Road and Paper Mill Road in Florence. Saluda County: - Enhanced coverage on US-Highway 378; from US Highway 378 along US Highway 391 to the town of Prosperity. - Enhanced coverage from Lexington west along US 378 and US 178 to Saluda. Lexington/Newberry County: - Enhanced coverage at junction of Highway 178 & State Route 113; from Highway 302 along Highway 6 into Swansea; and along Highway 178 into the town of Pelion. - Added coverage in residential areas along Highway 34 southwest of Newberry and along I-26 northeast of Newberry. Charleston County: - Enhanced coverage along Highway 17 -- a major evacuation route from Charleston. Orangeburg County: - Enhanced coverage along Highway 33 and I-26 to Orangeburg and between Orangeburg and Branchville. Greenville/Anderson/Cherokee Counties: - Enhanced coverage along State Highway 11, Highway 101 and surrounding areas. - Enhanced coverage along State Highway 14 (Cockrell Road) and surrounding local roads in Greer. - Added coverage in medical facilities in the downtown area of Anderson. - Enhanced coverage for the residential areas along Highways 11 and 110 between Chesnee and Gaffney, SC and the Cowpens National Battlefield. Abbeville/Pickens/Oconee Counties: - Enhanced coverage along Highways 20 & 184 and commercial/residential areas south of Due West; and along Highways 201 & 203. - Enhanced coverage along US Highway 135 (Anderson Hwy) and State Highway 178 (Moorefield Memorial Hwy) and it's growing residential surroundings. - Enhanced coverage for the residential areas surrounding the Lake Keowee area and along Highways 183 and 188 between Seneca and Walhalla. With nearly 21 company-owned stores and kiosks in South Carolina, Cingular also has extensive relationships with authorized agents and national retailers, giving customers over 180 additional locations to buy service. Currently, Cingular employs more than 170 people in the state. 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 cell, +1-404-202-6335, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

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