Cingular Wireless To Invest More Than $360 Million in Its Florida Network
23 Février 2006 - 9:37PM
PR Newswire (US)
Integration of the AT&T Wireless and Cingular Networks to
Result in Nearly 40 Percent More Cell Sites BOCA RATON, Fla. and
ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the
nation's largest wireless carrier, is investing more than $360
million this year in its Florida network, bringing customers even
more wireless services, expanded coverage, and broadband data
speeds between 400 and 700 kilobits per second. The 2006 investment
includes the final steps in the integration of the AT&T
Wireless and Cingular networks, which involves choosing the best
cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and
combining technologies onto a common network platform. In 2004, the
new Cingular opened up the network so that customers with
Mobile-to-Mobile could call AT&T Wireless and Cingluar
customers for free. However, the company has been running separate
networks in Florida while preparing both systems for the
integration. Network integration in Central, West and North Florida
will be completed by end of First Quarter; in South Florida it will
be completed by end of summer. That means statewide, customers will
have access to nearly 40 percent more cell sites, resulting in
fewer dropped calls, improved call quality, new coverage where none
existed before, and better in-building, in-car and pedestrian
coverage. The investment also includes the addition of portable and
permanent generators, and the deployment of a 3G high-speed
broadband wireless network that will allow customers to access
information and applications at broadband speeds in the office, on
the road or at home. The service - via laptop data cards or
3G-compatible phones -- provides average mobile data connections
between 400-700Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink and
bursts to more than a megabit per second. "Our ongoing focus is
ensuring Cingular customers have the best wireless experience
possible - which includes unmatched coverage and quality of
service," said Rich Guidotti, vice president and general manager
for Cingular's South Florida market, which covers Vero Beach to Key
West. "This network investment will enable us to continue to bring
residents of Florida the highest quality service available -
service that is enhanced by best-in-industry calling plan value and
cutting-edge devices," said Dan Norman, vice president and general
manager for Cingular's North Florida market, which covers southwest
Florida across the state north to Panama City and just over the
Georgia line. Network enhancements planned for 2006 in Florida
include expanded coverage in: - Orlando Market: -- In the town of
Celebration in Osceola County; -- On the campus of the University
of Central Florida in Orange County; -- In Research Park in Orange
County; -- In downtown Kissimmee and the northern portion of Lake
Tohopekaliga in Osceola County; -- In Poinciana Place residential
developments in Osceola County; -- In southeastern Lake County; --
In the developments of Heathrow Woods, Alaqua Lakes, Magnolia
Plantation and other residential areas in western Lake Mary in
Seminole County; -- In the residential developments in the Union
Park area in Orange County; -- In central St. Cloud and along U.S.
Highway 441 in Osceola County; -- In the residential developments
in the Union Park and Azalea Park area and along U.S. Highway 50
and State Highway 417 in Orange County; and -- In the Tuskawilla
development in central Seminole County. - Tallahassee Market: -- In
the Graceville, Bonifay and Chipley areas in Jackson County; --
Along the highways between Clarksville and Blountstown in Calhoun
County; -- In the town of Steinhatchee in Taylor County; -- Along
State Highways 153, 53 and County Road 150 in Madison County; and
-- In Apalachicola, St. Vincent and St. George Islands and between
Eastpoint and Port St. Joe in Franklin County. - Tampa Market: --
In Tarpon Springs in Pinellas County; -- In the western portion of
Holiday in Pasco County; -- In the southern portion of Plant City
in western Hillsborough County; -- To the residential areas
surrounding Memorial Highway, Countryway Boulevard, and West
Hillsborough Avenue in Hillsborough County; -- To MacDill Air Force
Base in Hillsborough County; and -- In Beverly Hills and between
the towns of Lecanto, Hernando and Crystal River in central Citrus
County. - Jacksonville Market: -- In the Hammock Beach resort area
and in the northeastern area of Palm Coast in Flagler County; -- In
the residential area of Orange Park in Duval County; and -- In the
town of Live Oak in Suwannee County. - Daytona Beach Market: --
West of the town of Samsula in Volusia County; -- Along Highway 46,
between Geneva and Mims in Seminole County; and -- In the Port
Orange residential areas along U.S. 1, South Nova Road, and Spruce
Creek Road in Volusia County. - Melbourne Market: -- To Patrick Air
Force Base and the beaches between Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach
in Brevard County; -- Along A1A and in the residential areas in
southern Indiatlantic and northern Melbourne Beach in Brevard
County; and -- In the residential developments of southern Palm Bay
in Brevard County. - Fort Myers/Naples Market: -- Along I-75 east
of Naples and to surrounding residential developments in the Golden
Gate area in Collier County; -- Along Highway 951 between Naples
and Marco Island and to the surrounding resort and residential
areas in Collier County; and -- In Lee County along Immokalee Road
and the Gateway residential area. - Ocala/Panama City/Lakeland
Markets: -- In the town of Silver Springs Shores in Marion County;
-- Along Old Highway 301, N.E. 97th Street, Highway 301 and
surrounding residential developments in central Marion County; --
In northern Bay County, along U.S. Highway 231, State Highway 20
and between State Highway 388 and County Road 2301 in Panama City;
-- In southern and western Poinciana and along Cypress Parkway
between Poinciana and Haines City in Polk County; and -- In South
Venice and Manasota in Sarasota County. - Treasure Coast Market: --
In Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, where
the network integration will result in approximately twice as many
cell sites. - Fort Lauderdale/Miami Market: -- In southern and
western Miramar in Broward County; and -- In southwest Pembroke
Pines; -- Along the Florida Turnpike in southern Miami and into
Florida City; -- To the Homestead Hospital and the new residential
developments east of the Turnpike in that area; -- Along Le Jeune
Road and Gratigny Parkway; -- In the industrial/commercial area to
the south of Opa Locka Airport; -- Along Flamingo Road; and -- To
the eastern end of Key West at the airport and the residential,
business and resorts in the area. Cingular invested more than $315
million in Florida on network improvements in 2005. Nationwide, the
company spent $6.5 billion on its network and plans to do the same
in 2006, bringing its overall investment since the company's 2004
acquisition of AT&T Wireless to more than $13 billion. Cingular
diligently monitors the quality and coverage of its network. In
addition to third-party vendors who assess the company's network
performance, Cingular network engineers constantly monitor the
network, driving more than 1 million miles annually throughout
Florida. Cingular also uses third party drive-testing vendors to
assess the company's network performance and wireless coverage. For
more information about Cingular, call 1-866-CINGULAR or visit
http://www.cingular.com/ 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(TM) network -- and the largest
mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.
Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its
3G network is the first widely available service in the world to
use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. 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/ First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:
DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Kelly Starling of Cingular
Wireless, +1-561-301-1414, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/
http://cingular.mediaroom.com/
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