BLS Bellsouth Cp

Nation's Largest Carrier Adding 56 Cell Sites in the Areas to its ALLOVER(SM) Network BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless voice and data network is getting larger in Alabama and Northwest Florida. Cingular Wireless today announced plans to invest more than $125 million in its Alabama and Northwest Florida network before year's end, integrating the Cingular and AT&T Wireless networks, increasing coverage and capacity, building 56 new cell sites, adding portable generators and back-up batteries, and offering enhanced new features. Cingular's local investment is part of a $6.2 billion commitment to enhance and expand its ALLOVER(SM) Network* nationwide. "Cingular is committed to delivering best-in-class coverage, call quality and the industry's greatest overall customer experience," said Joe Larussa, vice president and general manager for Cingular's Alabama/NW Florida/Mississippi/Louisiana markets. "This investment demonstrates that commitment, and we look forward to providing all our customers in Alabama and Northwest Florida with the very best in wireless voice and data services." Of the approximately 155 new cell sites to be added across the Gulf States in 2005, 56 are slated for Alabama and Northwest Florida. Year-to-date, Cingular has activated 27 new cell sites in Alabama and Northwest Florida, enhancing coverage in cities throughout these areas. In Alabama and Northwest Florida, specific enhancements and coverage expansions include: Autauga County: * Highway 82 northwest of Prattville Clay County: * The intersection of Highway 148 and 9 in Millerville, North on Highway 9 to Ashland and parts of Highway 77 South to Ashland Clarke County: * Highway 84 between Monroeville and Grove Hill Etowah County: * Along I-59 at Steele Station Road south of Attalla * Exit 182 along I-59 in west Gadsden Hale County: * Northern Hale County and Hwy 69 Birmingham/Jefferson County: * Among areas in Birmingham, Vestavia Hills, Pinson, New Castle and Mulga Lauderdale County: * Along Highway 43 between Florence and the Alabama/Tennessee state line Macon County: * I-85 and Highway 81 and improved coverage at Tuskegee and Tuskegee University Marion County: * Coverage on Highway 78 and the west side of Hamilton Monroe County: * Highway 84 between I-65 and Monroeville and the town of Repton * State Highway 21 in the town of Frisco City south of Monroeville Saint Clair County: * Highways 21, 26 and 144 through the town Ragland Shelby County: * Along Highway 280 near Eagle Point; Caldwell Mill Road, Highway 119 and Indian Springs; and Eastern Shelby County along Hwy 231 near Vincent Tuscaloosa County: * Along Highway 216 near Brookwood Walker County: * Along Highway 195 north of Jasper and the Northern part of the city of Jasper; Highway 61 and Jog Road north of Gorgus; Highway 78 between Jasper and Sumiton, North Walker County along Highway 195 and Highway 269 south of Jasper near Parrish Walton County in Northwest Florida: * Highway 331 and 83 in DeFuniak Springs Since its merger with AT&T Wireless last fall, Cingular has focused on high-quality coverage, reliability and reach. Cingular's ALLOVER network now covers more than 270 million people and provides service throughout the U.S., including the top 100 markets. In Alabama/Northwest Florida, Cingular's integration with the AT&T Wireless network has already begun. The networks in Fort Payne, Clanton, Montgomery, Auburn and Selma have already been integrated into one larger, improved network. The networks in Mobile and Northwest Florida will be completed in Fall 2005, and the remainder of the network is slated to be completed by mid-year 2006. By the end of 2006, Cingular customers will have access to some 45,000 cell sites nationwide. Cingular has invested more than $180 million in its Alabama/Northwest Florida network in the past two years deploying GSM and improving network coverage and capacity. GSM is the world standard for wireless communication, used by more than a billion people in the 200-plus countries and territories. With more than 60 company-owned stores and kiosks in Alabama/Northwest Florida, Cingular also has extensive relationships with authorized agents and national retailers, giving customers hundreds of locations to buy service. Currently, Cingular employs more than 800 Alabamians across the state. *Coverage not available in all areas. 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: Caroline Crowe of Cingular Wireless, +1-678-867-4330, or cell, +1-404-808-8254, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

Copyright