Cingular Wireless Completes Network Integration in Lexington Area

With Cingular and AT&T Wireless Networks Fully Combined, Customers Now Have Access to More Than 20 Percent More Cell Sites 


LEXINGTON, Ky., April 20  /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless customers in the Lexington area now have more bars in more places thanks to the integration of the Cingular Wireless and the former AT&T Wireless networks. With both networks now fully combined into one in the greater Lexington area, Cingular customers have access to more than 20 percent more cell sites, which translates into fewer dropped calls, improved call quality, new coverage where none existed before, and better in-building, in-car and pedestrian coverage for customers.

"The integration of the two networks in the Lexington area gives our valued customers increased coverage, improved call quality and the ability to make calls in more places, whether they are on the road, at work, or at home," said Jim Thorpe, Vice President and General Manager for Kentucky and Tennessee.  "Our network is the foundation of our business, and we are continually working to make it even stronger than it already is."

When Cingular and AT&T Wireless merged in October 2004, customers received a better experience immediately because they had access to more cell sites in more places through "home-on-home" roaming.  Now, with the completion of the network integration in greater Lexington, the two networks have become one continuous network, establishing the call through the closest cell site and passing the call seamlessly from site to site.  Customers not only have access to more cell sites, but also have all the cell sites in the Lexington area working for them.

Planning and preparation for the network integration involved choosing the best cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and combining technologies onto a common network.  The integration is part of an $85 million investment by the nation's largest wireless carrier in its Kentucky and Southern Indiana network in 2006.  The investment also includes the addition of portable and permanent generators and the addition of more than 25 new towers across Kentucky and Southern Indiana by the end of the year.

Since 2005, Cingular has invested more than $65 million in its Kentucky/Southern Indiana network alone, and approximately $13 billion nationwide.  By the end of the first quarter of 2006, Cingular had completed the AT&T Wireless network integration in more than 80 percent of its Southeast cities.  Cingular will also launch its 3G wireless network technology in more than 20 Southeast cities this year.

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



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