U-verse® with AT&T GigaPower(SM) Launches Today in parts of the Research Triangle and Winston-Salem

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Dec 08, 2014, 08:00 ET

RALEIGH, N.C., Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine downloading 25 songs in less than a second, before you can even crank up the volume. Imagine loading your favorite HD movie in less than 36 seconds, a fraction of the time it takes to pick which movie to watch. It's now a reality for qualifying residents and small businesses with today's launch of U-verse with AT&T* GigaPower in Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Winston-Salem.**

The selection of these cities for the all-fiber AT&T GigaPower network stemmed from an agreement with the North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN) initiative. NCNGN is comprised of six municipalities, four leading universities and local business leaders working to encourage development of high-speed Internet networks across the state.

The AT&T GigaPower network provides customers access to the fastest Internet available from AT&T, featuring speeds up to 1 gigabit per second.*** Whether customers are connecting to the cloud, videoconferencing, online gaming or other services, ultra-fast Internet access will improve the customer experience.

U-verse with AT&T GigaPower customers will also have access to cutting-edge TV services. This includes the ability to watch and record five simultaneous HD streams and AT&T's largest storage capacity DVR capable of storing up to 900 hours of SD or 330 hours of HD programming. Customers can also watch more than 100 live channels in and out of home, watch video on-demand TV shows and schedule DVR recordings, on more than 30 smartphones and tablets through the AT&T U-verse app.

"The Research Triangle has a long history as a technology innovator," said Tracy Futhey, vice president for Information Technology at Duke University and chair of the North Carolina Next Generation Network Steering Committee. "Maintaining that pace-setting role requires a continual evolution of our tech ecosystem. We're thrilled AT&T is investing in a gigabit network in our region. These kinds of networks will help to strengthen our region's competitive edge, ensuring that we continue to lead in creating an environment that inspires technological innovation."

Consumers in eligible areas have several choices of Internet speeds and bundling offers on the AT&T GigaPower network, with speeds up to 100 Mbps starting as low as $90 per month. Residential customers can upgrade their speed to up to 1Gbps, add TV or add a home phone for an additional $30 a month per service.**** More information can be found at att.com/gigapower.

"We're proud to launch in these cities as the first locations where we will offer ultra-high speeds to local consumers and employers in North Carolina," said Venessa Harrison, president AT&T North Carolina. "U-verse with AT&T GigaPower will help encourage economic development in the area by facilitating a new wave of innovation through enhanced opportunities for education, health, research and small business growth."

AT&T has also announced plans to launch AT&T GigaPower in additional areas and expand the availability of the network in Charlotte, Durham and Greensboro. As part of the agreement with the NCNGN, Durham residents and small businesses will receive AT&T U-verse Internet connectivity and U-verse TV services for the first time. Specific timing of availability for these markets will be announced at a later date.

In April, AT&T announced a major initiative to expand AT&T GigaPower to up to 100 candidate cities and municipalities across 25 markets nationwide. With today's announcement, U-verse with AT&T GigaPower is now available to consumers and small businesses in parts of the Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem markets. AT&T previously announced plans to deliver AT&T GigaPower in parts of 12 markets identified in April – Atlanta; Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.; Chicago; Cupertino, Calif.; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; Overland Park, Kan.; St. Louis and San Antonio.

Additionally, AT&T has committed that upon approval of its proposed acquisition of DIRECTV, the company will expand the AT&T GigaPower network to an additional 2 million customer locations. All of these 2 million locations are over and above what the company announced in April.

President Obama's proposal in early November to regulate the entire Internet under rules from the 1930s designed for voice services injects significant uncertainty into the economics underlying AT&T's investment decisions. As a result, the company has paused consideration of any fiber investments that would go beyond its DIRECTV merger-related commitments, which includes previously announced fiber plans described above, until the rules are clarified.

AT&T has served the state of North Carolina for 135 years and employs more than 6,700 people across the state.

For more information, or to check availability, please visit att.com/gigapower.

* 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.
** Initial availability limited to select areas.
*** Speed/time estimates are examples. Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary based on factors including site traffic, content provider server capacity, internal network management factors, customer device capabilities and use of other U-verse services. For more information, go to www.att.com/speed101
**** U-verse with AT&T GigaPower Premier offer is available with agreement from customer to participate in AT&T Internet Preferences. AT&T may use Web browsing information, like the search terms entered and the Web pages visited, to provide customers with relevant offers and ads tailored to their interests.

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 at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 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.

Reliability claim based on analysis of independent third party data re national carriers' 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.

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.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.