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Alltel Wireless Rolls Out Faster Broadband Network in Greenville

Posted on: Monday, 20 October 2008, 09:00 CDT

Alltel Wireless today announced that it is expanding its wireless broadband network with the launch of EVDO (evolution data optimized) Revision A technology in Greenville and surrounding communities, enabling customers to upload files five to 10 times faster than before.

The new Rev. A coverage includes all of Greenville and Spartanburg. It extends west of Greenville along U.S. 123 through Easley to Clemson, and north beyond Marietta on U.S. Highways 25 and 276, stopping just past state Highway 11. It also extends south along U.S. 25 and Interstate 385 to Piedmont and Simpsonville.

Alltel's Rev. A coverage also is available in Columbia and surrounding communities.

"Alltel Wireless is committed to bringing our customers the fast wireless broadband service they expect in their business and personal lives," said Ron Senchak, vice president of business solutions for Alltel in South Carolina. "This network upgrade will give our customers secure, reliable access to the latest wireless technology."

Alltel's existing broadband Wireless Internet service enables remote access to corporate intranets, productivity enhancing applications and a variety of consumer products, such as Alltel TV. Rev. A will enhance the performance of all of those services.

Customers using Rev. A will experience average upload speeds of 500-800 Kbps with bursts up to 1.8 Mbps. Upload speeds on the company's existing broadband network average 50-70 Kbps, with bursts up to 144 Kbps, so the enhanced network will be five to 10 times faster.

Download speeds also will increase. Rev. A download speeds average 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps, with bursts up to 3.1 Mbps. By comparison, downloads on the existing broadband network average 400-700 Kbps with bursts up to 2.4 Mbps.

Using Rev. A, customers can expect to download a 1 Megabyte e-mail file attachment - the equivalent of a small Power Point(R) presentation or a large PDF file - in less than 15 seconds and upload the same file in less than 25 seconds.

Alltel Wireless customers will need a Rev. A-capable device to access the company's enhanced broadband network. Rev. A-capable Wireless Internet cards for laptops include the Kyocera KPC680, the Huawei EC228 USB and the UTStarcom UM 150. Customers with a Huawei EC360 can make their card Rev. A-capable by visiting http://software.alltel.com/ and downloading the appropriate software for free.

Alltel Wireless has one of the largest EVDO footprints of any U.S. carrier, covering cities such as Cleveland, Charlotte and Tampa, as well as many smaller communities. In addition to the extensive coverage provided by its own network, Alltel's roaming agreements give its customers with data-card equipped laptops Wireless Internet access in all of the nation's major metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Both versions of Alltel's Wireless Internet service - EVDO and Rev. A - are available for $59.99 a month and do not require a voice plan in order to qualify.

Customers also can add unlimited access to 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to any Alltel Wireless Internet plan for $9.99 per month by visiting http://wifi.alltel.com/.

Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and flexibility to the customer's wireless experience with its exclusive "My Circle" feature, giving customers unlimited calling to and from any five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the ability to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.

Alltel is owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network and has more than 13 million wireless customers. For more information about Alltel, please visit www.alltel.com.

Source: Business Wire

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