BLS Bellsouth Cp

Third-Party Test Shows Network Investments Paying Off ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless announced today that it has received the top ranking for reliability among national carriers in Jacksonville based on drive test results from a leading wireless research company that provides information, insight and performance measurements for the wireless industry. The drive test measured which carrier had the fewest number of dropped, blocked and incomplete calls. Cingular received the 'Most Reliable' network rating among national carriers in Jacksonville. "We are proud to be recognized by an independent research company as having the most reliable network among national carriers in Jacksonville, which shows our financial investments in North Florida are paying off by giving our customers the best possible wireless experience," said Rudy Hermond, vice president and general manager for Cingular's North, Central and West Florida markets. "We'll continue to enhance the quality and coverage of our service in Jacksonville and throughout Florida. "Cingular is investing approximately $340 million in Florida this year, adding some 20 cell sites to enhance its wireless service throughout the state. Since 2003, the nation's largest wireless carrier has invested more than $1 billion in Florida alone. Year-to-date, Cingular has activated 11 new cell sites in north, west and central Florida, including new sites in Duval and Flagler counties. The company will spend more than $6.2 billion nationally in network upgrades and expansion this year, giving customer's access to 45,000 cell sites nationwide, the most of any U.S. carrier. Cingular provides coverage to more than 270 million people living and working in every one of the top 100 markets in the United States. Customers can also use most phones when traveling abroad in more than 180 countries. In addition to comparative drive testing done by third-party companies, Cingular has several programs in place to measure the effectiveness of its network enhancements which include routine drive and walk testing. Cingular estimates -- through these programs and other initiatives -- it will drive test its network nearly 30 million miles -- the equivalent of 50 round trips to the moon. In addition to completing the integration of the former AT&T Wireless and Cingular networks this year, Cingular will roll out its high-speed, wireless broadband network in Jacksonville before month's end, giving customers access to average data speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second with bursts to over one megabit per second. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 58.7 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: Kelly Starling, of Cingular Wireless, +1-561-301-1414, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

Copyright