AT&T Enhances Mobile Internet Coverage In Colorado State Capitol Building

DENVER, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colorado State Capitol building is a 19th century landmark in the heart of Denver, but thanks to new technology recently installed by AT&T and the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration (DPA), the more than 100-year old structure is now on the cutting edge of wireless connectivity. As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* has expanded its mobile Internet coverage at the Colorado State Capitol building.  While preserving the building's history, the carrier has delivered a major high-tech upgrade through the installation of a new neutral host Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance the customer experience throughout the facility.

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"We are excited to see the next generation of technology come into the State Capitol to help improve cell and data service when visitors, lawmakers, state employees and others are in the building," said Kathy Nesbitt, Executive Director of DPA, which oversaw the project's implementation. 

A neutral host DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T's wireless network, while allowing other wireless carriers to utilize the technology to also enhance their coverage throughout the Colorado State Capitol building. DAS provides more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas and has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.

The Colorado State Capitol DAS installation is part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers' growing desire for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud-based services. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to add more than 1,000 DAS nationwide by year-end 2015, as well as more than 10,000 macro cell sites, and deploy more than 40,000 small cells, to increase the density of its wireless network.

"With hundreds of people conducting business at the state capitol year around, and thousands attending the legislative session, wireless coverage has never been more important. We want our customers at the Colorado State Capitol to have a great network experience no matter what they are doing – whether they are taking a tour with their family, conducting business making a call, checking email, downloading apps or surfing the Internet," said Amber Tafoya, Director of External Affairs- AT&T Colorado. "With initiatives like Project VIP, we're continuing to invest in the wireless network and providing enhanced coverage at the State Capitol building is just one way that we're investing in Denver and the state of Colorado."

DAS technology helps improve the mobile Internet experience by shortening the distance a request must travel. The additional capacity also is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.

These investments help to ensure that Colorado residents continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go.  The great performance of AT&T's 4G LTE network continues to be validated:

• AT&T has the fastest and now most reliable 4G LTE network.** According to independent third-party data, AT&T has the highest success rate for delivering mobile content across nationwide 4G LTE networks.
• Meanwhile, our 4G LTE service was recognized as having faster average download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld/TechHive's most recent 20-market speed tests – the second consecutive year that AT&T has ranked 1st overall. PCWorld/TechHive also ranked AT&T's as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20 cities it tested.***
• And AT&T was named America's fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine's 2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study – sweeping the top rankings in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast, North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.****

"Enhancing citizens' ability to communicate when visiting the state capitol is important," said Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver).  "This investment will help facilitate the flow of information, especially during the legislative session."

Going a step beyond providing network support, AT&T has supported the Share in the Care Campaign, a structural renovation project to fix and improve the capitol dome. Additionally, the carrier launched a texting campaign with mGive to help fund renovations.

Across Denver and Colorado, AT&T's 2013 investments have resulted in expansion and enhancement of our 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast speeds.  AT&T 4G LTE is now available in Denver as well as Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins-Loveland, Grand Junction and Silverthorne. Nationwide, nearly 240 million Americans have access to AT&T 4G LTE service.  By year-end 2013, AT&T expects to cover nearly 270 million people and 400 markets with its 4G LTE network.

AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. 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 402,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans.

Over the past five years, AT&T invested nearly $98 billion into its wireless and wireline networks across the country. Since 2008, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a July 2012 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. "Investment Heroes."

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Denver 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.

** Speed claim based on comparison of national carriers' average 4G LTE download speeds for Android^TM and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. Reliability claim compares data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G speeds not available everywhere.

*** PCWorld/TechHive, May 23, 2013, "AT&T clocks best overall speeds with 3G/4G combo"

**** PC Magazine, June 17, 2013; http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420333,00.asp

****** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

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 fastest and 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.

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