AT&T Strengthens 3G Wireless Coverage in Tampa-St. Petersburg

New Spectrum in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties Improves In-Building Wireless Coverage, Adds 3G Capacity To Support Surging Demand for Mobile Broadband

TAMPA, Fla., April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AT&T* today announced a substantial enhancement to its local 3G wireless network with the launch of additional wireless spectrum in the 850 MHz band. This new spectrum adds significant capacity to the network to support ever-growing demand for 3G mobile broadband service, and provides improved in-building 3G wireless coverage for customers throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The network enhancement is part of AT&T’s continual efforts to enhance and expand the scope, capacity and speed of its 3G wireless network – the nation’s fastest, according to recent data compiled by leading independent wireless research firms. It is also part of AT&T’s ongoing investment to build the broadband networks that will create jobs and fuel economic growth, and enable AT&T’s customers to quickly access the content, applications and services that matter most to them. AT&T plans to invest between $17 billion and $18 billion in total capital expenditures this year, about two-thirds of which is devoted to network enhancement and expansion.

The 850 MHz spectrum has been added to the existing 1,900 MHz spectrum now serving the Tampa-St. Petersburg market to deliver a substantial increase in overall network capacity in the area. The 850 MHz spectrum is part of the highest-quality spectrum band available. While specific benefits of the new spectrum will vary by location, AT&T 3G customers should receive improved quality and coverage throughout the area.

“This substantial network upgrade is part of our commitment to deliver the nation’s fastest 3G connectivity along with the highest possible levels of service quality and reliability,” said Marshall Criser, III, AT&T president, Florida. “We know many customers depend on wireless as their primary communications connection to work, family and friends, and our mission is to ensure that every time a customer hits the ‘send’ key, whatever the application, it just gets done. We’re enhancing our network every day to help customers do more with and get more from their wireless connections.”

In markets where the 850 MHz spectrum has been deployed, AT&T technicians who continuously monitor network performance for service quality and coverage have seen significant increases in total 3G data traffic.

The AT&T 3G network opens the door to a new era of advanced mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content, such as AT&T Video Share(SM), a first-of-its-kind technology that allows users to share live video during a wireless call.

AT&T’s wireless network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies, which includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. As a result, only AT&T can offer 3G data roaming in more than 70 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 200 countries, in addition to AT&T’s continuously expanding U.S. 3G footprint.

AT&T also enables unsurpassed choice and openness in the range of devices, services and applications compatible with its 3G network. 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 virtually any application over the Internet. Additionally, AT&T supports a community of more than 13,000 application developers via its devCentral portal.

AT&T’s 3G network is now available in nearly 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas. AT&T plans to deploy 850 MHz spectrum in the majority of these markets over the course of 2009.

*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. (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. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation’s fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation’s leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) 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.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.