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Cingular Wireless Network Expansion Enhances Fredericksburg Wireless Experience FREDERICKSBURG, Va., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet increased demand for wireless service in this fast growing Virginia community, Cingular Wireless today announced the addition of five new cell sites serving Fredericksburg. These sites are a part of Cingular's effort to extend wireless coverage, giving customers more consistent access to the Cingular Wireless network along the major travel corridors in and around the city of Fredericksburg. As part of Cingular's efforts to enhance coverage southeast of Fredericksburg, the company has added three sites to support the growing communities in that area. A site on an existing structure on Harrison Road offers coverage along Route 3 and near the Central Park Mall. Two additional sites, one off of Sandy Lane and the other near Burma Road, offer additional coverage along the commuter routes along Route 17 Business from Fredericksburg towards Port Royal. Northwest of Fredericksburg, Cingular Wireless has enhanced coverage along Route 17, west of I-95 with two more sites. One serves the community of Hartwood, and the other is located on Route 17 southwest of Stafford. Together the sites connect the Cingular Wireless network between Hartwood and Goldvein towards Warrenton. "We know that our customers' number one priority is being able to make a call when they want and where they want," said William Wheeler, vice president and general manager of Cingular Wireless in Maryland, DC and Virginia, "That's why Cingular is committed to making our great network even better -- not just in Virginia, but across the country." Last year, Cingular spent more than $120 million implementing an advanced GSM/GPRS network and enhancing coverage and capacity throughout Maryland, DC and Virginia. GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, giving customers the latest technology advances, including phones with greater functionality and unique features, high-speed data connectivity and superior sound quality. With almost 1 billion people in 200-plus countries using this technology, more than 70% of the world's total wireless market is GSM. And what GSM delivers for voice, GPRS technology delivers for data. GPRS, or General Packet Radio System, is an enhancement for GSM that transmits and receives data in packets. It provides consumers with "always-on" connectivity, greater bandwidth and faster connection speed -- all from a wireless phone. In addition to retail and network expansion, Cingular has introduced a number of new initiatives throughout the year to enhance the customer experience. These include offering a simplified bill, more detailed coverage maps and self-service enhancements on the web, just to mention a few. "Cingular made tremendous strides in 2003, nearing the completion of our nationwide GSM network conversion, and delivering a host of innovations to our customers through new data services and products," said Wheeler. "In 2004, we are focused on ensuring that our Fredericksburg customers have the very best wireless experience possible." About Cingular Wireless in Maryland, DC and Virginia The Cingular Wireless market of Maryland, DC and Virginia is extends more than 20,000 square miles and covers a population in excess of 7 million. Last year, Cingular spent more than $120 million implementing an advanced GSM/GPRS network and enhancing coverage and capacity throughout the region. In 2004, the company plans additional network enhancements across the market including the launch of GSM/GPRS services in southern Maryland and along the eastern shore. About Cingular Wireless Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), serves more than 25 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide, and provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/ . DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Alexa Graf Kaufman of Cingular Wireless, +1-301-489-3610, or wireless, +1-301-742-0888, or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/

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