Cingular Wireless Completes $242 Million Investment

New AT&T unit launched high-speed wireless network in Florida

Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier and now part of the new AT&T, invested $242 million in West, Central and North Florida upgrading and expanding service during 2006. This local investment is part of the wireless company's $400 million statewide network investment and $6 billion national network capital expenditure program in 2006.

Last year, AT&T's wireless unit added high-speed 3G (third generation) service in Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, including the major airports and college campuses in these cities and the Daytona International speedway; built several new cell sites; and added generators. As a result, the ALLOVER network - the largest digital voice and data network - has grown bigger, better and more powerful in West, Central and North Florida.

"2006 has proven to be an unprecedented year for us in Florida," said Rudy Hermond, vice president and general manager for AT&T's wireless operations in West, Central and North Florida. "We completed a major expansion initiative and added our 3G network, and that's an exceptional achievement that positions us for the future."

During the last two years, the company has invested more than $13.5 billion nationally in an aggressive program to upgrade and expand wireless service and now gives customers access to some 45,000 cell sites - more than any other wireless carrier in the country.

Hermond added, "And now as part of AT&T, in 2007 we will continue our momentum and focus on delivering a strong network and pleasant in-store customer experience. We are well positioned to deliver on these promises with nearly 3,700 employees and more than 1,300 cell sites in West, Central and North Florida."

The company's 3G service is based on High-Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) technology and is the first widely available HSDPA deployment in the world. This advanced network allows high-speed access to cell phones designed for the higher speed and processes wireless data over high-speed-capable phones or a laptop. Customers can now more quickly access e-mail, browse the Internet, connect to business applications, or watch video clips while on-the-go.

AT&T's 3G wireless network allows customers to download at average data speeds between 400-700 Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink, with bursts to more than a megabit per second. Nationwide, AT&T's 3G service is available in more than 160 markets, including most of the top 100 major cities in the country - AT&T.