AT&T Completes More Than 1,200 Wireless Network Upgrades Year-to-Date in Michigan

DETROIT, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* customers in Michigan are expected to experience improved mobile broadband coverage and voice performance as a result of continued investment by AT&T. The company announced today network improvements made to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its local mobile broadband network.

Since the start of 2011, AT&T has made more than 1,200 wireless network upgrades in Michigan. Some of the enhancements include:

• Deploying enhanced backhaul connections to more than 525 cell sites. Combined with HSPA+ technology, these backhaul deployments enable 4G speeds**.
• Adding capacity or an extra layer of frequency - which is like adding lanes to a highway - to more than 550 cell sites in the following areas:
• Installing more than 20 new cell sites to improve network coverage.
• Upgrading more than 100 existing cell sites to provide faster mobile broadband speeds.

"More than ever before, customers look to wireless communications to stay in touch with family, friends and business colleagues," said Jim Murray, president, AT&T Michigan. "We're working to make this possible by investing in new wireless coverage in the area. In addition, our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network. If approved, this deal means that we'll be able to expand the next generation of mobile broadband – 4G LTE – from our current plan of 80 percent of the U.S. population to more than 97 percent.

"AT&T's investment in Michigan is great news," said House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall). "Infrastructure improvements like this make AT&T a great partner as we work to make Michigan a major competitor for economic development and job creation."

"Michigan is proud to welcome AT&T's investment and continuing commitment to the state," said Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe). "The resources AT&T are making available for job makers and families, from faster speeds to expanded cell and broadband coverage are critical tools in our effort to attract, grow and strengthen new jobs across the state."

AT&T plans to support the build or upgrade of thousands of cell sites nationwide to increase network speed, coverage and reliability for both mobile voice and broadband services. AT&T also plans to install additional radio "carriers" at thousands of cell sites nationally this year, enabling new layers of spectrum capacity to carry larger volumes of mobile broadband traffic. Additional capacity helps support rising mobile data traffic volumes, which have increased more than 8,000 percent over the past four years.

"Our goal is to deliver a network experience that mobilizes everything for customers," said Brian Ducharme, vice president and general manager, AT&T Michigan and Indiana. "The ongoing investment we're making in Michigan is designed to increase coverage, reliability and to provide advanced services to our customers so they can do more with their wireless devices." 

AT&T recently launched "Focus: Detroit," which provides visitors a peek into AT&T's wireless network enhancements made since the beginning of the year. Enhancements include new cell sites, broadband speed upgrades, capacity upgrades and network connection upgrades. The site also provides a map of area AT&T stores, a map of area Wi-Fi hotspots, useful tips, a localized Twitter handle and device reviews. You can visit the site at http://focus.att.com/Detroit.

For more information about AT&T's coverage anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure quality of coverage 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. 4G device required. Learn more at att.com/network.

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.

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