BLS Bellsouth Cp

JACKSON, Miss., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless customers in Brookhaven, Hattiesburg, Gulfport and Biloxi now have more coverage in more places thanks to the integration of the AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless networks which added new cell sites to its local network. The network integration coupled with the new sites built in 2005 has resulted in more GSM cell sites serving these cities, giving customers improvements in call quality, in-building, in-car and street level coverage. This expansion was part of the company's completed 2005 $85 million investment in its Mississippi network that included the integration of two state of the art networks and the addition of more than a 37 new cell sites across the state last year. The integration of the AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless networks involves choosing the best cell sites from both, eliminating duplicate equipment, and then placing everything on a common network platform. The entire Mississippi network integration is slated to be completed this year. "The integration of the two networks in Mississippi is on schedule and customers in these cities should experience improvements in service which include increased coverage, improved call quality, and ability to make calls in more places," said Doyle Warrington, Director of Sales for Cingular's Central/North Mississippi markets. "Our network is the foundation of our business and we are continually working to make it even stronger than it already is." The outcome of the Mississippi integration project is GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) coverage in areas where it was nonexistent or expanded and enhanced GSM coverage. GSM is the world standard for wireless communication, used by more than a billion people in 200-plus countries. "Almost overnight our network was transformed, giving our customers access to more sites in more places and we are not stopping. This year we will continue to invest and expand our network across the state," said Scott Mann, Director of Sales for Cingular's South Alabama/NW Florida/Mississippi Gulf Coast markets. Specific coverage enhancements include: Brookhaven Area Coverage Enhancements (Lincoln & Pike Counties) Five cell sites added --South of Brookhaven along I-55 between Brookhaven and the Bouge Chitto exit. --South of Brookhaven along I-55 near the Lincoln/Pike county line. --West of Brookhaven along Hwy 84. --In the Northwestern side of downtown McComb near Delaware Avenue & W. Michigan Avenue. --South of McComb near Airport Fernwood Road & Old Industrial Road. Hattiesburg Area Coverage Enhancements (Forrest & Lamar Counties) 15 cell sites added --North of Hattiesburg near Monroe Road and French Haralson Road. --South of Hattiesburg near Hwy 49 and Dewitt Carter Road. --In Hattiesburg near I-59 and U.S. Hwy 98 and near I-59 and Lakeview Road. --In Hattiesburg near Sullivan Kilrain Road and Tatum Camp Road. --In Hattiesburg near Old Hwy 11 and Old Hwy 24. Gulfport/Biloxi Area Coverage Enhancements 22 cell sites added --In Biloxi near I-10 and Cedar Lake Road. --In Pass Christian near I-10 and Vidalia Road. --In Pass Christian near U.S. Hwy 90 and Fifth Street. --In Gulfport near Hwy 49 and John Hill Blvd. --In Gulfport near I-10 and Lorraine Road. --In Gulfport near Hwy 49 and Hwy 53. ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 54.1 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. First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact: DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Dawn Benton of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-5305 (office), +1-404-202-6335 (wireless), or email Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/newsroom

Copyright