AT&T Customers Get More Mobile Broadband Coverage in Berks and Lehigh Counties

READING, Pa., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced that 34 cell sites in Berks and Lehigh counties received third generation (3G) technology that will enhance coverage for area residents and businesses. With 3G speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactive mobile applications.

The 34 cell site enhancement is one part of AT&T's ongoing efforts to drive innovation and extend its 3G wireless network – the fastest in the nation, according to independent testing.  It is also part of AT&T's ongoing investment to build the broadband networks in Pennsylvania that will fuel economic growth and create jobs, and enable its customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.  From 2007 through 2009, AT&T's total capital investment in its Pennsylvania wireless and wireline networks was more than $725 million.

"Our goal is pretty simple: we want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, or surf the Internet on your AT&T device," said J. Michael Schweder, president, AT&T Pennsylvania. "As part of these communities, we're always looking for new opportunities to provide enhanced coverage and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this."

"We're seeing advanced smartphones driving up to 10 times the amount of usage of other devices on average," said Dan Lafond, vice president and general manager for AT&T in the central and eastern Pennsylvania. "Despite these unprecedented increases in wireless data traffic, AT&T's network investments and upgrades have enabled us to continue to deliver the nation's fastest 3G network."

AT&T recently completed a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation's fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T's network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with and enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future.  Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available in 2010 and 2011 on a market by market basis as AT&T combines the new technology with our second initiative to dramatically increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic connections, adding capacity from cell sites to the AT&T backbone network.

AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T offers 3G data roaming in more than 115 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 220 countries.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews.

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 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse(SM) and AT&T | DIRECTV(SM) 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. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.