Cingular Wireless Completes Digital Network Enhancement Plan26 January 2005
Cingular Wireless, the country's largest wireless provider, announced that it has installed more than 110 cell sites throughout Washington and Northern Idaho in 2004 as part of a $203 million
commitment to expand its digital wireless network performance and coverage.
Combined with the cell sites from the recently completed merger with AT&T
Wireless, Cingular's Washington/Northern Idaho area now has almost 1,500 cell
sites.
"While we are pleased with our progress, we will not stop here," said Mike
Maxwell, Cingular's vice president and general manager. "In 2003, we made the
commitment to complete our advanced data and voice network across the nation,
and in 2004 we focused on increasing our coverage, particularly in residential
areas and in-building locations, by adding cell sites and an additional GSM
spectrum band and enhancing data services for our customers.
"We recognize that superior call quality and coverage are two of the most
critical factors that determine customer satisfaction. We are moving
aggressively to continue what we began earlier this year to ensure we have
'more bars in more places.' Our ALLOVER(SM) network* is the largest digital
voice and data network in America. We have an even larger commitment planned
for 2005."
Highlights of the many 2004 enhancements include the following areas:
- Enhanced GSM service in the Puget Sound area: Deployed an 850 MHz
overlay to the existing 1900 MHz GSM network to greatly improve the
overall coverage in the Puget Sound area. The 850 MHz spectrum
improved in-building coverage (business and residential areas), added
more capacity to the network, and improved call quality. In addition,
new antenna sites were added to enhance service for residents and
businesses in many areas of Washington and Northern Idaho.
- New wireless service: Provided customers with new wireless service
where they work and live in Chewelah, Colville, Eatonville and Raymond
- New highway wireless service: Extended existing wireless services to
new areas, such as Highway 395 from Deer Park to Kettle Falls; Highway
101 from Cosmopolis to downtown Raymond; Highway 7 connecting
Eatonville to Highway 161; I-90 from Coeur d'Alene to Wolflodge Creek
in Idaho; and Highway 41 from Spirit Lake to Old Town
- Enhanced highway and road service: Created wireless service for
travelers of Highway 182 from Richland to Pasco; Yelm Highway in
Thurston County; Highway 525 and Highway 20 on Whidbey Island; Highway
162 in Pierce County from Alderton to South Prairie; Highway 101 from
Leland to Quilcene
- New technologies: Added new high-speed UMTS data service in Seattle,
including SeaTac airport and E911 Phase II service in 21 counties.
Maxwell said Cingular's nationwide network covers more than 268 million
people and is growing, providing the largest high-speed data network in
America. Cingular also offers the largest free mobile-to-mobile calling
community with more than 46 million people.
The integration of Cingular's wireless network with that of AT&T Wireless
will continue through 2005, which will result in some consolidation of sites.
However, the vast majority will remain, to be woven into a single network that
is an integral part of the company's network advantage.
Cingular's network growth exclusively relies on advanced GSM/EDGE
technology. GSM is the world standard for wireless communication, used by more
than a billion people in 200-plus countries. In fact, more than 70 percent of
the world's total wireless market is GSM. What GSM delivers for voice, EDGE
delivers for data. EDGE is a high-speed wireless data service that gives
customers true "third generation" (3G) wireless data services with data speeds
typically three times faster than what was available with GPRS.
With the acquisition of AT&T Wireless, Cingular offers even faster network
speeds with AT&T Wireless' UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)
data network, which was implemented earlier this year in selected cities,
including Seattle.
"The Pacific Northwest is an important part of our ALLOVER(SM) network*,"
said Maxwell. "We chose Seattle as one of our first cities to rollout our
high-speed data network because some of the nation's most tech savvy customers
are in this city. We want to continue to meet their needs."
Cingular will build on that deployment, and in November, announced plans
to deploy the nation's fastest high-speed mobile wireless data network based
on international standards. Called UMTS with HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet
Access), this 3G technology will offer average data speeds between 400-700
kilobits per second and bursts to several megabits per second on capable
devices.
Cingular's UMTS/HSDPA offering will allow customers the ability to have
simultaneous voice and data sessions, which means a customer can use a handset
to make a call at the same time they are checking their e-mail or browsing the
Internet at high speeds.
For more information about Cingular, please contact 1-866-CINGULAR
or visit http://www.cingular.com .
* Coverage not available in all areas.
Source: PR Newswire
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