AT&T Ranks No. 1 In Columbia, SC

COLUMBIA, S.C., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Newly-released research shows AT&T* wireless customers in Columbia, SC are enjoying the best local network. An independent mobile research and testing organization today gave AT&T's wireless network top honors. Seattle-based RootMetrics® ranked AT&T highest for combined/overall voice, data and text performance in Columbia.

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The RootMetrics® wireless network performance study for Columbia named AT&T as the overall RootMetrics RootScore® Award winner for its combination of call, text and mobile Internet performance. The RootMetrics award is based on analysis of more than 18,698 wireless test calls, texts and data transmissions conducted during August 2013. This is the second consecutive study Columbia has been ranked 1^st by RootMetrics.

"AT&T has the highest rank in Columbia for overall network performance, according to our research conducted in August 2013. We tested call, data and text performance across all networks in the Columbia area, including over 4G LTE networks. As a result, AT&T is the RootScore Award winner for overall performance in the area," said Bill Moore, RootMetrics' President and CEO.

AT&T launched 4G LTE** in Columbia in November 2011. It plans to expand its 4G LTE network to cover 300 million people nationwide by year-end 2014. Even as 4G LTE expands, customers can get 4G speeds outside of 4G LTE areas with our 4G HSPA+ technology.

"Our customers depend on their wireless service to help manage their busy lives," said Ted Creech, AT&T's director of External Affairs in South Carolina. "They want service they can depend on as they travel in and around the Columbia area. We are happy to see our network investment is paying off and our customers are getting top-ranked wireless performance.

"There are more reasons than ever to choose AT&T. AT&T invested more than $275 million in its Columbia wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, and we'll continue investing in order to give our customers great service."

The testing period covering Columbia released on September 5, 2013, measured 18,698 call, data, and text tests of mobile service experience by RootMetrics. The Report is proprietary to RootMetrics.

Performance rankings are derived using data sampling and analysis methods that are subject to statistical variation. The results of the Report are not an endorsement of AT&T by RootMetrics. Wireless network performance is subject to a number of factors. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.rootmetrics.com for more details.

*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. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

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.

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© 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.