CULPEPER, Va., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T* today announced the expansion of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network to 27 cell sites in the Northern Piedmont area of Virginia, opening the door to a new era of mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content for customers throughout the region. AT&T's customers will now experience improved voice and data quality along Route 3 through Stevensburg to Culpeper, traveling west on Route 29 through Brightwood, and southeast on Route 230 through Radiant to Orange and Louisa. Communities that will see enhanced wireless coverage include Burr Hill, Madison, Locust Dale, Mineral, Wolftown, Haywood, Richardsville, Elkwood, Unionville and Brandy Station.

"Delivering dependable wireless coverage in more places in central Virginia for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected to work, family and friends is our ultimate objective," said J. Michael Schweder, President AT&T Mid-Atlantic. "Our ongoing investments in the state will help us ensure that our customers have access to the wireless services that help drive economic growth in traditionally rural areas, such as Woodberry Forest, Bumpass and Graves Mill." The network extension is part of AT&T's ongoing efforts to drive innovation and investment to deliver the benefits of smartphones and mobile broadband for customers. More smartphone customers have chosen AT&T over any other U.S. competitor, and AT&T is committed to driving continual enhancement of network capabilities to meet these customers' ever-growing mobile broadband needs.

To address the growing demand for advanced wireless services, AT&T has added 72 new cell sites in Virginia this year, bringing the total current number of cell sites in the state to 1,618. These enhancements build upon AT&T's investment in its wireless and wireline networks in Virginia, which was nearly $475 million from 2006 to 2008.

"It's all about connecting our customers with the products and services that make the most of their mobile experience - be it using award-winning applications like AT&T Navigator to arrive in Syria for apple picking or to check e-mail while away from the office," added Rob Forsyth, vice president and general manager for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. "From road warriors to texting teens, twice as many Smartphone users in the U.S. have chosen AT&T over any other wireless carrier. We have something for everyone." AT&T matches its network investment with unsurpassed choice in the range of devices, services and applications compatible with its 3G network - the nation's fastest, according to independent testing. AT&T offers a wide variety of devices from more than a dozen manufacturers, including handsets that are compatible with six different operating systems and five different e-mail applications. Our Media Mall 2.0 offers more than 90,000 content options, and customers can download additional applications over the Internet. Additionally, AT&T supports a community of more than 20,000 application developers via its devCentral portal.

Recently, AT&T announced plans to further upgrade its 3G network nationwide with HSPA 7.2 technology to deliver considerably faster mobile broadband speeds. The upgrades are planned to begin in the fourth quarter, with completion expected in 2011. Supporting this initiative is AT&T's ongoing deployment of additional backhaul capacity to cell sites, which will support today's unprecedented growth in mobile data traffic as well as the future demands of next-generation networks.

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's 3G network is available in more than 350 major metropolitan areas. AT&T also offers 3G data roaming in more than 185 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 215 countries.

More information about AT&T's 3G coverage in central Virginia or anywhere in the United States may be found at http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/, which indicates the quality of coverage based upon a street address, intersection, ZIP code, or even a landmark.

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

*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.

About AT&T AT&T Inc. 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. AT&T 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's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies.

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/. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATTNews. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at http://www.facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

© 2009 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.

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.

AT&T Inc.

CONTACT: Beth Gautier, Office, +1-202-659-5888, Mobile, +1-202-270-5724,egautier@attnews.us, for AT&T Inc.

Web Site: http://www.att.com/

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