AT&T Invests in Kentucky Network to Deliver Most-Advanced Mobile Broadband Experience
Plans Call for Addition of New Cell Sites and the Expansion of Backhaul in 2011 as Part of Initiative to Drive 4G Speeds, Increase Wireless Network Capacity
FRANKFORT, Ky., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today was joined by Governor Steve Beshear to announce that the company has invested more than $525 million in its Kentucky wireline and wireless networks over the past three years. The company will continue to invest aggressively in network enhancements as part of AT&T's planned $19-billion nationwide investment in 2011. This will support plans to enable 4G speeds** over a growing portion of the country starting this year along with the launch of LTE beginning mid-year.
"Better wireless coverage drives economic growth, stimulates job creation and equips Kentucky businesses with the ability to compete in a global marketplace," said Beshear. "Bringing faster speeds and better coverage to our commonwealth, and especially to our rural areas, will make Kentucky a more attractive place to live, work and raise a family."
Mary Pat Regan, AT&T Kentucky state president says AT&T plans the following network improvements across the state of Kentucky in 2011:
- Upgrading cell sites for mobile broadband.
- Activating new cell sites to improve network coverage and reliability.
- Deploying fiber-optic Ethernet backhaul connections to hundreds of cell sites. Combined with HSPA+ technology, these backhaul connections enable 4G speeds.
- Delivering additional mobile broadband capacity to hundreds of 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.
Today's announcement builds on the momentum established with AT&T's 2010 wireless investment, when it added more than 35 new cell sites in Kentucky and upgraded more than 150 existing sites to mobile broadband. The company also announced plans to hire an additional 200 employees at a wireless call center in Grayson. Currently, AT&T employs more than 3,200 employees in Kentucky.
"Because Kentucky has proven to be a business-friendly Commonwealth, AT&T has continued to invest aggressively each year as we work to provide the most-advanced mobile broadband experience for our customers," said Regan. "Thanks to the leadership of Governor Beshear and the General Assembly for building an attractive business climate for advanced telecommunications, we are making strides to bring faster speeds and enhanced coverage to more Kentuckians. Much progress has been made but there is much more to come."
Continued Regan, "In addition, our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA also represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network in Kentucky. 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."
Already this year, AT&T has expanded mobile broadband to several communities including London, Bardstown, Corbin, Mt. Sterling, and Murray. The investment also will support the build and upgrade of new cell sites nationwide designed to increase network speed, coverage and reliability for both mobile voice and broadband services. AT&T also plans to install additional radio "carriers" at more than 30,000 cell sites nationally this year, enabling new layers of spectrum capacity to carry larger volumes of mobile broadband traffic. This additional capacity enables AT&T to support rising mobile data traffic volumes, which have increased more than 8,000 percent over the past four years.
Across the country, AT&T also continues to drive innovation in network technologies to provide maximum efficiency and performance for customers. In 2011, AT&T will focus on continuing to enhance its wireless network forecasting capabilities to better predict usage trends and build network capacity to always stay one step ahead of customer need. AT&T also continues to pioneer broadband solutions for high-traffic areas like stadiums and public places, deploying technologies including Distributed Access System networks and AT&T Wi-Fi hotzones.
"Smartphones, tablets and laptops are continuing to drive unprecedented demand for wireless access everywhere," said Chris Percy, AT&T's vice president and general manager of mobility and consumer markets for Tennessee and Kentucky. "We're investing in and deploying a combination of technologies to meet these needs and ensure an advanced broadband experience."
AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network*** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 135,000 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 wireless data plans.
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 has the broadest international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries.
For more information about AT&T's coverage in Kentucky 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 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.
*** 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 news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may 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 or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
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