AT&T Building Most Advanced Mobile Broadband Experience in Dallas-Fort Worth Area, Announces 2011 Network Upgrade Plans

AT&T Plans to Upgrade Thousands of Antennas, Hundreds of Cell Sites and Expand Backhaul in 2011 in DFW Area to Enable 4G Speeds, Increase Wireless Network Capacity

Dallas, Texas,---

AT&T*, building on its strong 2010 record of network accomplishments, today announced a series of network improvements planned for this year in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding communities. The network enhancement plans are part of AT&T’s overall initiative to deliver the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience and make the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network even faster.

David Nichols, president of AT&T Texas, said AT&T plans to continue its commitment to delivering superior service to its Dallas-Fort Worth-area customers in 2011 with an aggressive plan of network improvements. Plans include:

* Replacing more than 5,000 antennas at more than 900 cell sites, across the metroplex and along major highways, to enhance voice quality, reduce dropped calls and deliver more efficient, consistent mobile broadband speeds. More than half of the antenna replacements have already been completed.
* Delivering additional wireless capacity to more than 1,000 cell towers in the area through the addition of new layers of frequency, also known as “carriers,” to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase mobile broadband capacity at local cell sites.
* Deploying enhanced backhaul connections to hundreds more cell sites to enable 4G speeds.
* Installing nearly two dozen additional cell sites.
* Installing distributed antenna systems in high-traffic areas and facilities, such as office buildings and sporting and event venues, to provide enhanced wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.

“The nation’s fastest mobile broadband network is getting even faster with 4G**,” Nichols said. “AT&T is continuing to deploy enhanced backhaul connections at existing cell sites locally and across the nation to enable 4G speeds.”

This year’s plans build upon the improvements AT&T completed in 2010 to strengthen its North Texas mobile broadband network, including the installation of 24 new cell sites, the upgrade of more than 100 more cell sites to mobile broadband, increasing wireless capacity by at least an additional 50 percent on more than 1,300 cell sites and the installation of distributed antenna systems in several targeted venues to handle increased traffic. In addition, the majority of network enhancements put in place to assist in handling increased voice and data traffic with the biggest football game of the year in Arlington remain in place.

“We invested more than $1 billion in our Dallas-Fort Worth-area wireless and wireline networks from 2008 through 2010, helping AT&T customers take advantage of the numerous capabilities on their wireless devices,” Nichols said. “With our continued investment and efforts to provide a better network experience, we’ve made a lot of progress here in our hometown, and we’re committed to doing even more.”

AT&T’s advanced network provides several important advantages for customers. Unlike some competitors, AT&T’s mobile broadband network provides customers with the ability to talk and surf at the same time. For instance, you can look up directions to an event while staying on the phone with your boss, or browse your favorite social media sites while chatting with a friend. AT&T’s mobile broadband network also is up to 35 percent faster than our largest competitor’s CDMA-based network on average nationally.

AT&T also provides access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. AT&T’s largest competitor’s CDMA-based devices work in fewer than 45 countries. Business Traveler magazine recently named AT&T as having the “Best Mobile Coverage in the World” – the fourth time AT&T has received the distinction.

“Consumers who want the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network and the best selection of wireless devices will come to AT&T,” Adam Vital, AT&T’s vice president and general manager for North Texas said. “We’re working hard to provide our customers best-in-class service and our ongoing investment in the local wireless network is one way to accomplish this.”

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, said AT&T’s significant investment to improve its network will further bolster Dallas-Fort Worth’s reputation as a great place to live and work.

“High-tech expansions like this one help our business community, our local economy and our overall quality of life,” Jenkins said. “Few businesses today are more competitive than the wireless industry. That level of competition results in investment and new technology, which delivers benefits to the entire community.”

“With our smartphones, our employees can conduct business from practically anywhere in the general area,” Shane Kimbrel of Data Magic Computer Services said. “It’s more efficient and it saves time because our employees can call on customers and not have to worry about getting back to the office to do paperwork. They can do it all on the go and still get invoices out to our customers.”

AT&T’s focus is delivering the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience, which includes delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience. At the same time, AT&T is widening its lead in smartphones and devices, with 20 4G devices planned for 2011, including an industry-leading Android lineup. And AT&T is driving development of wide-ranging mobile applications with three AT&T Foundry collaborative innovation centers, including one in Plano, as well as leadership in multiple initiatives to provide new tools for apps developers.

AT&T’s mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world.

AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network*** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S. and access to more than 125,000 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 data plans.

For more information about AT&T’s coverage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

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.

**4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Will be available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G device. Learn more at att.com/network.

***Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. 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. 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 mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also 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® and AT&T | DIRECTV 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 Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.