AT&T Boosts Wireless Coverage Inside The State Capitol

TALLAHASSEE,  Fla., March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* has improved its mobile Internet coverage at Florida's Capitol Complex by installing a repeater fed Distributed Antenna System.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/DA23287LOGO)

The network project involved adding an antenna on top of the Capitol and installing multiple strategically-placed internal antennas throughout the complex, including the House and Senate chambers. The outdoor antenna on the Capitol's roof receives a wireless signal from a nearby cell site, sends it to a repeater where the signal is amplified, and then sends the signal over the DAS and throughout the buildings.

A DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, more consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent the optimal wireless experience.

In addition, AT&T has installed a charging station for wireless users in a cafe located on the 10^th floor in the main section of the Capitol Complex.

"We want our customers to have a great network experience wherever they are, no matter what they're doing – whether that's making a call, checking email, downloading apps or surfing the Internet," said Marshall Criser, lll, president, AT&T Florida. "We're committed to our investment in the local wireless network, and providing enhanced wireless coverage at the state Capitol is just one way that we're investing in Tallahassee."     

AT&T invested more than $2.8 billion in its Florida wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, with a focus on expanding 4G LTE mobile Internet coverage and enhancing the overall performance of its networks.

The company made nearly 3,150 wireless network upgrades in six key categories in Florida last year, including activating new cell sites, adding capacity, upgrading cell sites to provide fast 4G LTE mobile Internet speeds, deploying high-capacity Ethernet connections to cell sites, and adding or upgrading Distributed Antenna Systems, which boost wireless coverage and capacity in buildings and at major venues like convention halls or sports arenas.

AT&T launched 4G LTE in 2012 in Orlando (Jan.), Tampa-St. Petersburg (Feb.), Sarasota-Bradenton (Feb.), Naples (May), Miami (July), Fort Lauderdale (July), West Palm Beach (July), Jacksonville (Sept.), Fort Myers (Oct.), Daytona Beach (Nov.), Pensacola (Nov.), and Melbourne (Dec.).  AT&T 4G LTE is the latest generation of wireless network technology and provides faster mobile Internet speeds and improved performance on a variety of mobile smartphones and tablets. 

AT&T's innovation and investment has resulted in the nation's largest 4G network, covering  288 million people with ultra-fast speeds and a more consistent user experience. That's coverage in 3,000 more 4G cities and towns than Verizon. **

AT&T is the only U.S. service provider to deploy two compatible 4G technologies to deliver more speed to more smartphone customers. AT&T's HSPA+ network enables mobile Internet speeds up to four times faster than 3G technologies.***  

AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network**** including more than 32,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers across the country.  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 wireless data plans.

Over the past five years, AT&T invested nearly $98 billion into operations across the U.S. Since 2008, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company.  In a July 2012 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. "Investment Heroes."

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Tallahassee or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer.  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 not available everywhere.  Comparison based on U.S. cities and towns with 4G coverage.

***Claim compares 4G download speeds to industry average 3G download speeds.

****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 and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, 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.

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.

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. 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. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.