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Cingular ( News - Alert) has only been an official AT&T company for mere days and already this division is making waves. As the nation’s largest carrier, the company has spent nearly $400 million in improving and expanding services in the Gulf States market, which includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Northwest Florida during 2006.
As part of an estimated $6 billion national network capital expenditure program in 2006, these local investments include:
- $145 million investment and 34 new cell sites in Alabama/NW Florida.
- $165 million investment and 53 new cell sites in Louisiana.
- $90 million investment and 94 new cell sites in Mississippi.
In 2006, AT&T’s (News - Alert) wireless division added high-speed 3G service in Birmingham, Baton Rouge and New Orleans; built 181 new cell sites, expanded network capacity; and completed the integration of the company’s cell sites with those of the former AT&T Wireless to establish a single, enhanced network.
The network integration was able to provide improved coverage and expansion of network services in just a few months that otherwise could have take up to five years to achieve.
"2006 has proven to be an unprecedented year for us in the Gulf States market," said Joe Larussa, vice president and general manager for AT&T's wireless operations for the AL/LA/MS/NWFL market, in a statement. "We completed a major expansion initiative and added our 3G network in several markets and that's an exceptional achievement that positions us- and our customers- for the future."
The company has been aggressively investing more than $13.5 billion nationally over the last two years as part of a program to upgrade and expand wireless service. As a result, customers now have access to some 45,000 cell sites.
Larussa added, "And now as part of AT&T, in 2007 we will continue our momentum and focus on delivering our customers, throughout the region, with a strong network and pleasant in-store customer experience. We are well positioned to deliver on these promises with more than 2,500 cell sites in the region."
The new 3G service from AT&T is based on High-Speed Data Packet Access (HSDPA) technology, the first widely available service in the world to do so. With the 3G network, customers are provided high-speed access to cell phones designed for higher speed, in addition to the ability to process wireless data over high-speed-capable phones or on a laptop. This enables quicker access to e-mail, Internet browsing, connection to business applications and video clip viewing while on the go.
Customers can download data on the company’s 3G wireless network at average speeds between 400-700 Kbps on the downlink, with bursts to more than one megabit per second. This 3G service is available in more than 165 markets.
Cingular, as now part of AT&T, is positioning itself to continue its dominance throughout the market. Not only has the company invested in an expansion to be able to service a wider base, but it is also enhancing its service offerings, making it harder for smaller companies to compete.
While monopoly status in the industry seems unlikely, this dominance will dictate better service offerings for competitors in order to stay alive. In the end, customers will gain the greatest benefit as all companies vie for their dollar.
Want to learn more about wireless networks? Then be sure to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. The papers are authored by industry leaders, who, in turn, receive qualified sales leads from interested parties. Check here for the latest in CRM information.
High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) | X | | High Speed Downlink Packet Access was released in 3GPP-Third Generation Partnership Project Release 5 for indoor and urban outdoor high speed data access at 10 MBPS-Mega Bits Per Second range (14.4 MB...more |
Internet Protocol (IP) | X | | IP stands for Internet Protocol, a data-networking protocol developed throughout the 1980s. It is the established standard protocol for transmitting and receiving data
in packets over the Internet. I...more |
Third Generation (3G) | X | | A variety of cellular phone specifications collectively known as Third Generation mobile technology. 3G networks do not operate in the same frequency spectrum as 2G. Examples of 3G wireless specs incl...more |
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