AT&T Invests Nearly $90 Million Over Four-Year Period To Enhance Local Networks In Tucson Area

Investment Expands Access to Nation's Most Reliable 4G LTE Network, Benefits of Mobile Broadband

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Mar 05, 2014, 02:01 ET

TUCSON, Ariz., March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* has invested nearly $90 million in its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in the Tucson area between 2010 through 2013, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance speed, reliability, coverage and performance for residents and business customers.

Advancing its Project Velocity IP (VIP), an investment plan to expand and enhance its wireless and wired IP broadband networks, AT&T in 2013 made 13 network upgrades in the Tucson area, including new cell sites, addition of wireless network capacity, and new broadband network connections.

"Tucson residents depend on our fast and reliable Internet connections more and more every day, whether it's instant access to files and apps at work, watching a video at home, or even receiving updates from connected cars or home monitors," said Jerry Fuentes, president of AT&T Arizona and New Mexico. "AT&T is making robust investments locally to make sure that residents can take full advantage of the latest services and tools, and that businesses have the speed they need to compete and grow."

Notable Tucson area network enhancements in 2013 included expanding AT&T's 4G LTE network to cover more residents.

"Continued investment in fast and reliable Internet networks is critical for both quality of life and economic growth in Arizona," said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. "Enhanced wireless connectivity is an important benefit for residents and businesses."

AT&T's network investment has resulted in a 4G LTE network that has been recognized for its speed, reliability and coverage. AT&T was named Tucson's fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine's 2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study. AT&T swept the top rankings in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast, North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.**

AT&T provides the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network today, covering nearly 280 million Americans with 4G LTE service. AT&T's 4G LTE deployment is ahead of schedule, with plans for the deployment to be substantially completed by the summer of 2014.

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, and provides access to more than 529,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers and U-verse customers get access to its entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans.

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Tucson 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.
** PC Magazine, June 17, 2013; http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420333,00.asp
*** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots.
To define a market, we rely on the Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), as established by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Minor differences, if any, between annual totals reflect annual updating of market boundaries in our record systems.

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 most reliable 4G LTE 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 service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. 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/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube athttp://www.youtube.com/att.

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