AT&T Building Most Advanced Mobile Broadband Experience in Las Vegas, Announces 2011 Network Upgrade Plans

LAS VEGAS, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T*, building on its strong 2010 record of network accomplishments, today announced network improvement plans designed to enable 4G speeds** and enhanced reliability to Las Vegas and surrounding communities in 2011.  The wireless network enhancement plans are part of AT&T's planned $19-billion investment in its wireless and wireline networks and other capital projects in 2011.

Stephanie Tyler, president of AT&T Nevada, says AT&T plans the following network improvements in the Las Vegas area in 2011:

• Deploying enhanced backhaul connections to approximately 340 of the area's cell sites. Combined with HSPA+ technology, these backhaul deployments enable 4G speeds.
• Delivering additional wireless capacity to roughly 180 cell sites in the area through the addition of new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers." Adding extra capacity to a cell site is like widening a highway – you're creating more lanes to accommodate increasing traffic.
• Installing more than five new cell sites to improve network coverage.
• Deploying and upgrading Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks at more than 10 venues in high-traffic areas to enhance network coverage during events to provide enhanced wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.

Tyler said AT&T invested nearly $140 million in its Las Vegas wireless and wireline network from 2008 through 2010 as part of its commitment to superior service in the area. This year's plans build upon the improvements AT&T completed in 2010 to strengthen its Las Vegas area mobile broadband network, including:

• Installing more than 10 new cell sites, including in North Las Vegas areas like Decatur and Washington, both East and West of the North Las Vegas airport, as well as near Beltway
• Adding spectrum carriers to more than 280 cell sites
• Deploying enhanced backhaul connections to key cell sites to enable 4G speeds and more capacity
• Deploying DAS networks at various venues

The investments made in the Las Vegas area wireless and wireline networks are part of the more than $500 million AT&T invested from 2008-2010 across Nevada, Tyler said.

The nation's fastest mobile broadband network is getting faster with 4G**. A key planned upgrade for 2011 is deployment of enhanced backhaul connections to approximately 340 cell sites in Las Vegas to enable 4G speeds.  Backhaul connections carry traffic between cell sites and AT&T's nationwide network.  Enhanced fiber-optic and ethernet backhaul connections expand capacity many times over, and enable additional expansion in the years to come.

"We're investing in our Las Vegas network to help AT&T customers take advantage of the numerous capabilities of their wireless devices," Tammi Terrell, vice president and general manager for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets in Las Vegas said. "This year, we're committed to providing best-in-class wireless voice service to our customers, and we're backing that up with the right investments."

AT&T's advanced network provides several important advantages for customers.  Unlike some competitors, AT&T's mobile-broadband network provides customers with the ability to talk and surf at the same time. For instance, you can look up directions to an event while staying on the phone with your boss, or browse your favorite social media sites while chatting with a friend.  AT&T's mobile broadband network also is up to 35 percent faster than our largest competitor's CDMA-based network on average nationally.

AT&T also provides access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries.  AT&T's largest competitor's CDMA-based devices work in fewer than 45 countries.  Business Traveler magazine recently named AT&T as having the "Best Mobile Coverage in the World" – the fourth time AT&T has received the distinction.

"AT&T is consistently among the top companies in the U.S. in terms of our capital investment and we're committed to helping our customers right here in Las Vegas take advantage of the numerous capabilities of their wireless devices," said Tyler.  

Dave Archer, CEO, Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, said AT&T's significant investment to improve its network will further bolster Las Vegas' reputation as a great place to live and work.

"High-tech expansions like this one help our business community, our local economy and our overall quality of life," Archer said. "Few businesses today are more competitive than the wireless industry. That level of competition results in investment and new technology, which delivers benefits to the entire community."

AT&T's focus is delivering the nation's most advanced mobile broadband experience, which includes delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.  At the same time, AT&T is widening its lead in smartphones and devices, with 20 4G devices planned for 2011, including an industry-leading Android lineup.  And we're driving development of wide-ranging mobile applications with three AT&T Foundry collaborative innovation centers planned for this year, as well as leadership in multiple initiatives to provide new tools for apps developers.

AT&T's mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world.

AT&T also operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network*** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S. and access to more than 125,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly data plans.

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Las Vegas or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul.  Available in limited areas.  Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G device. Learn more at att.com/network.  Actual speeds experienced will vary and depend on several factors, including device, location, capacity, facilities, and other conditions.

*** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.  A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED