Cingular Wireless Investing More Than $100 Million in Its Michigan Network in 200618 May 2006
Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, is investing more than $100 million in its network in Michigan in 2006, bringing customers even more wireless services, call quality and coverage on the road, at the office, and in their homes.
The 2006 investment in Cingular's Michigan network will bring over 80 new cell sites, high-speed data services, the addition of portable and permanent generators, the integration of over three hundred cell sites -- network assets of the former AT&T Wireless -- and other enhancements to Cingular's ALLOVER(TM) Network, which is the nation's largest all-digital voice and data network.
This investment builds upon Cingular's 2005 Michigan network investment of more than $60 million. Nationwide, the company spent $6.5 billion on its network and plans to do the same in 2006, bringing its overall investment since the company's 2004 acquisition of AT&T Wireless to more than $13 billion.
"Our ongoing focus is ensuring Cingular customers have the best wireless experience possible-which includes unmatched coverage and quality of service," said Brian Ducharme, vice president & general manager, Cingular Wireless- Indiana and Michigan. "This network investment will enable us to continue to bring residents of Michigan the highest quality Cingular service available ever-service that is enhanced by best-in-industry calling plan value and cutting-edge devices."
Network enhancements planned for 2006 in Michigan include:
- Additional cell sites for the core areas of Grand Rapids, Lansing, and
Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Improved service for Midland, MI and south of Jackson through Adrian,
MI.
- 3G UMTS deployment across the Detroit metro area late summer 2006.
- Enhanced coverage in and around Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.
- Improved coverage along the M-21 Highway, from Lowell to Fowler.
- New coverage for residents and visitors in southern Grand Rapids and
Caledonia.
- Expanded coverage to Muskegon, Kalamazoo (home of Western Michigan
University) and Battle Creek (Cereal City USA).
- Expanded coverage to the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston.
Significantly, Cingular recently launched its third-generation (3G) wireless network technology in 16 major cities, with more to follow across the country. With 3G, customers will access information and applications at broadband speeds in the office, on the road or at home. The service -- via laptop data cards or 3G-compatible phones this year -- provides average mobile data connections between 400-700Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink with bursts to more than a megabit per second.
"Last year, we invested over $60 million in our network and added more than 128 cell sites in the Michigan markets alone-2006 will be another landmark year for Michigan," said Ducharme. "Network integration further improves our already stellar coverage and call capacity."
Network Testing
Cingular diligently monitors the quality and coverage of its network. In addition to third-party vendors who assess the company's network performance, Cingular network engineers constantly monitor the network, driving approximately 450,000 miles of highway across Indiana and Michigan each year to ensure our network is operating at peak efficiency. That's equivalent to more than 17 trips around the world.
Enhancing the Customer Experience
Thanks to its advanced network, Cingular customers use the best services that wireless can offer. For example, customers can choose from an exciting array of wireless devices including the recently launched Motorola SLVR, Cingular's second handset capable of downloading iTunes directly from a PC. Another of many innovative services available is Cingular Sounds Live, which will utilize the company's on-demand streaming video service, Cingular Video(TM), so that customers can watch concert highlights on their 3G- compatible wireless phones.
Additionally the company offers an interactive mapping tool available at all retail locations and by calling 1-866-CINGULAR. The tool provides customers with up-to-date wireless coverage information and is designed to answer a customer's specific wireless coverage questions based on an address, street intersection, zip code or even a landmark. This tool will soon be available online to current Cingular customers and to those shopping for cellular service.
For more information about Cingular, call 1-866-CINGULAR or visit http://www.cingular.com/
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 54.1 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., (NYSE: T), and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation-the ALLOVER(TM) network-and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com
Source: prnewswire
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