AT and T Provides More Coverage in Lake Murry
New Cell Site Activated as Part of Ongoing AT&T Investment
in Local Wireless Network
COLUMBIA, SC, JUNE 22, 2010 — As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of a new 3G cell site in Columbia that will enhance coverage for residents and businesses along route 6 in the Lake Murray area. With 3G speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactive mobile applications.
AT&T recently unveiled its South Carolina wireless network investment plans for 2010, which include the addition of 3G to more than 200 new and existing cell sites throughout the state.
“We have a long history of investing in our network throughout Columbia to improve the quality of service we provide to our customers,” said Pamela Lackey, President, AT&T South Carolina. “Our customers will experience enhanced wireless coverage and an improved user experience as a direct result of the activation of this new cell site.”
The new cell site is one part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to drive innovation and extend its 3G wireless network – the fastest in the nation, according to independent testing. It is also part of AT&T’s ongoing investment to build the broadband networks that will fuel economic growth and create jobs, and enable its customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.
“We are fortunate to have two very strong leaders at the South Carolina General Assembly who have helped to make investments of this nature possible. Senator Ronnie Cromer and Representative Chip Huggins have worked to help assure that our citizens have access to their choice of the best possible resources," said Kirk Luther, President of the Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce. "Having good wireless communications is critical to our citizens, and it also stimulates economic growth.This new 3G cell site represents investment in technology that will benefit our local community and economic development efforts, and its due in large part to the pro-economic development policies supported by Sen. Cromer and Rep. Huggins."
From 2007 through 2009, AT&T’s total capital investment in its South Carolina wireless and wireline networks was nearly $625 million. From 2007 through 2009, AT&T’s wireless network investment in South Carolina was more than $90 million.
“Our goal is pretty simple: we want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, or surf the Internet on your AT&T device,” said Alison Hall, vice president and general manager, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets - Carolinas. “As part of the Columbia community, we’re always looking for new opportunities to provide enhanced coverage and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this."
AT&T recently completed a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T’s network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with and enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future.
Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available in 2010 and 2011 on a market by market basis as AT&T combines the new technology with our second initiative to dramatically increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic connections, adding capacity from cell sites to the AT&T backbone network.
AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T offers 3G data roaming in more than 115 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 220 countries.
AT&T operates 19 AT&T-owned retail locations in South Carolina including a store located at 5530 Forest Drive in Columbia. AT&T’s products and services are also available at a number of other authorized dealers and national retail locations.
For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews.
