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More than 38 new cell sites added to the network since January JACKSON, Miss., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless continues to expand its Mississippi network and today announced it has activated 38 new cell sites since the beginning of 2006. These new sites are part of a $90 million network investment statewide, and will significantly improve coverage and service in the areas of Tupelo, Oxford, Columbus, Jackson, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Natchez, Brookhaven, McComb, Gulfport and Biloxi. A total of more than 160 new cell sites are planned for the state this year. "Providing our customers across the state of Mississippi with high quality wireless coverage and service is our top priority, "said Joe Larussa, vice president and general manager for Cingular's Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and NW Florida region. "Our efforts this year are focused on strengthening and building out our network in more rural areas and along the travel corridors that are important to our customers." Larussa added, "Cingular is expanding into the communities where wireless service is needed the most." The 38 new cell sites have led to service improvements in these areas: Tupelo (Seven cell sites added): - North of Corinth along Harper Rd. near Shiloh Rd. - Along the Natchez Trace Parkway near Saddle Creek Dr. - Along Hwy. 45 between Booneville & Baldwyn - Along Hwy. 25 North of Tishomingo - Near the intersection of Hwy. 8 & Hwy 9 - Near Gore Springs & the intersection of Hwy. 8 & Camp McCain Rd. - South of Tupelo along Hwy. 45 Oxford (Three cell sites added): - University of Mississippi campus near fraternity row - Intersection of Hwy. 7 & Hwy. 9W - Along Hwy. 30 Columbus (Three cell sites added): - Along Hwy. 82 in the Northeastern area of Oktibbeha County. - In Duck Hill along Hwy. 51 & Hwy. 404 - North of West Point along Hwy. 45A Jackson (10 cell sites added): - North of Yazoo City along Hwy 49W - Along Hwy. 49 in Bentonia - Hwy.35 & Hwy. 404 - Hwy. 12 & Hwy. 429 in Sallis - Hwy. 35 & Hwy. 492 in Walnut Grove - West of Louisville near the intersection of Hwy. 25 & Hwy. 14 - Hwy. 35N & Old Jackson Rd. - In Sebastopol - East of Carthage along Hwy. 16 near Goshen Rd. - Along Hwy. 16 near Hwy. 427 Meridian (Three cell sites added): - Along Hwy. 80 in Newton County - Along Hwy. 16 near Nathan Pilgrim Rd. & Hwy. 495 in Kemper County - Along Hwy. 19 between Philadelphia & Meridian in Neshoba County Hattiesburg & Laurel (Four cell sites added): - Along Hwy. 84 between Laurel & Collins in Jones County - East of Laurel along Hwy. 84 near the intersection with Kehey Gore Rd. in Jones County. - Along Hwy. 98 in Greene County - Near Hwy. 28 & Hwy. 35 in Mize Natchez (Three cell sites added): - Near the intersection of Hwy. 24 & Hwy. 33 in Wilkinson County - Along Hwy. 61 near Hard Times Rd. in Jefferson County - Along Hwy. 98 near Hwy. 33 in the Western portion of Franklin County Brookhaven & McComb (Four cell sites added): - Along Hwy. 84 near the intersection with Veto Rd. in Franklin County - Along Hwy. 98 near Middleton Creek Rd. in Franklin County - East of McComb along Hwy. 98 in Walthall County - Along Hwy. 51 near Wesson in Lincoln County & Copiah County Gulfport & Biloxi (One cell site added): - On I-10 East of Moss Point In addition to expanding its network reach across the state, Cingular is also committed to meeting the service needs of consumers who are less fortunate. In an effort to bring advanced wireless communications to more people, Cingular is participating in a Government program to provide discounted wireless service to eligible low-income consumers or those on defined financial assistance programs. At this time, this program is only offered in limited areas including parts of Mississippi. To find out if you qualify for the program, please visit http://www.cingular.com/lifeline or call Cingular at 1-800-377-9450. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 57.3 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T 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 emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/. DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Dawn Benton of Cingular Wireless, +1-404-236-5305, or wireless, +1-404-202-6335, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://www.cingular.com/lifeline http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

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