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Network Integration Completed in Eastern Washington REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the country's largest wireless provider, today announced that it is spending more than $205 million to enhance and extend wireless voice and data services in the Washington/Northern Idaho market during 2005. "Cingular is focused on building the best network for our customers throughout the state, the region and the nation," said Mike Maxwell, vice president and general manager for Cingular in the Pacific Northwest. "The size and scope of network improvements taking place is unprecedented." Building the Best Network Cingular is investing more than $205 million in its ALLOVER network(SM) in Washington and Northern Idaho this year. - More than 70 new cell sites are planned by the end of 2005. Most of the sites are already on the air serving customers. - Integration of the Cingular and AT&T Wireless networks has now been completed in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Since its merger with AT&T Wireless last year, Cingular network technicians have been working to integrate the two companies' national networks. - When the two companies merged, customers immediately had access to more cell sites. Now with completion of network integration east of the mountains the two networks can "talk" to each other. When a customer establishes a call through the closest site, the call passes seamlessly from site to site. - New switches have been added to increase calling capacity to support current and forecasted growth. - Many existing cell sites have been strengthened with additional equipment to carry more voice and data traffic. King County: Cingular has been adding new cell sites in key locations to increase calling capacity and expand the network. New cell sites are now on the air in Seattle, Kent, Auburn, Renton, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland and Kenmore. Pierce County: Cingular has already increased network coverage with new cell sites on the air in Tacoma, Puyallup, and near Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Thurston County: Cingular is the first wireless carrier to build an in- building system to provide coverage inside the State Capitol in Olympia. In- building sites are now providing voice and data service in the Legislative Building. Snohomish County: Cingular is increasing calling capacity and coverage in Bothell, Lynnwood, Edmonds and Stanwood with new cell sites. Olympic & Kitsap Peninsulas/Northwest Washington: New cell sites are expanding GSM network coverage in Bellingham, Port Angeles, Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Aberdeen. Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho In addition to completing network integration in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho that is delivering a stronger network experience, new cell sites have been added in Wenatchee, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston/Moscow. This is part of a $6.2 billion commitment by Cingular to enhance and expand its ALLOVER(SM) network* nationwide. Network and Customer Information At all company owned retail locations, Cingular's interactive mapping tool can answer specific questions about network coverage based on a customer's address, a street intersection, zip code, state or landmark. The service can even estimate the likelihood of coverage in various scenarios - inside a building, for example. Customers may also obtain information about network coverage by calling 1-866-CINGULAR. Cingular leads the industry in educating customers about their new service at the point of sale. New customers receive either a Cingular Service Summary with a summary of their calling plan and its features including an estimated first bill or a Welcome Kit Brochure for customers who sign up over the phone or the Internet. GSM - The World Standard for Wireless Communication As part of its national network build-out and enhancement, Cingular has stepped up efforts to ensure quality. The company expects its employees and those of other third-party companies to drive test its network nearly 30 million miles over the next year - that's the equivalent of more than 50 round trips to the moon. The company's network growth 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. The widespread use of GSM offers Cingular customers the ability to use a large variety of GSM "world phones" and devices in more than 125 countries to make calls and access GPRS services in more than 70 countries. The company's EDGE network - the fastest national high-speed wireless data network in America - provides average data connections of up to 135 kilobits per second in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along nearly 40,000 miles of highways. For more information about Cingular, please contact 1-866-CINGULAR or visit http://www.cingular.com/. * Coverage not available in all areas. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 52.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., (NYSE:T) 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: Anne Marshall of Cingular Wireless, wireless, +1-206-331-1498, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/

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