New Cell Sites, Enhanced Voice/Data Quality and Capacity for ALLOVER(TM) Network LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, is investing $62 million in its Arkansas network in 2006, bringing customers even more wireless services, enhanced call quality and coverage. The 2006 investment in Cingular's Arkansas network will bring new cell sites, high-speed data services, the addition of portable and permanent generators, and other enhancements to Cingular's ALLOVER(TM)* Network, which is the nation's largest all-digital voice and data network. * The ALLOVER network covers more than 270 million people. Coverage not available in all areas. An important part of this year's network improvements will be the completion of the integration of network assets of the former AT&T Wireless. That integration -- when completed this year -- will have the impact of adding the equivalent of five years of network growth all by itself. The integration involves choosing the best cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and combining the technologies onto a common network platform. Cingular's ongoing investment also has a positive impact on economic development through the hiring of contractors and subcontractors to do much of the work, which accounts for millions of dollars that go into Arkansas' economy. In 2005, Cingular invested more than $60 million here in Arkansas on network improvements. Nationwide, Cingular will invest more than $6 billion expanding and enhancing its network this year. When combined with its 2005 network spending, the two-year total approaches $13 billion to deliver a better wireless experience for customers. "Our ongoing focus is ensuring Cingular customers have the best wireless experience possible -- which includes unmatched coverage and quality of service," said Jake Mullins, sales director for Cingular in Arkansas. "This network investment will enable us to continue to bring Arkansans the highest quality service available -- service that is enhanced by calling plan value and cutting-edge devices." Cingular also plans to launch its third-generation (3G) wireless network technology in Little Rock this year. With 3G, customers will securely 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. 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 thousands of miles per month throughout the state. 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/ DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT: Frank Merriman of Cingular, +1-469-229-7613 or Web site: http://www.cingular.com/ http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

Copyright