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Cellular South Expands 3G High-Speed Mobile Broadband Data Services Throughout Much of Mississippi Delta Region

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 August 2009, 11:23 CDT

RIDGELAND, Miss., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular South, a leader in wireless solutions and innovation, today announced availability of its third-generation 3G high-speed mobile broadband data services to consumers and business customers in 15 counties and 60 cities in the Mississippi Delta.

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The 3G expansion by the nation's largest privately owned wireless carrier is the single largest by any wireless company in the Mississippi Delta. "We know that our customers count on our network in every way and this expansion of high-speed data service will greatly enhance efforts to diversify the economy in this part of the state," said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for Cellular South.

With the new deployment, customers in 60 cities and 15 Mississippi Delta counties now experience faster uploads and downloads when connecting to the Internet and gain access to new mobile high-speed data services, including mobile video telephony, high-quality music and other multimedia applications, according to Tony Kent, chief technology officer for Cellular South.

Some of the larger cities in the Mississippi Delta with the new 3G coverage boost include Cleveland, Greenwood, Greenville, Belzoni, Indianola, Yazoo City, Leland and Grenada. For 10 counties, virtually the entire geographic area is covered along with portions of five other counties in the Delta.

From instant e-mail access to downloading music and accessing social networking, Cellular South's 3G high-speed data services will fundamentally change the way businesses and residents stay connected. "This upgraded network offers incredibly fast speeds and convenient broadband Internet access backed by one of the most trusted names in wireless today," Kent said.

Cellular South's 3G technology is a world leader and supports a new era of advanced mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content along with faster access to social networking, e-mail and text messaging, picture and video messaging, Internet access, viewing high-quality videos and downloading music, games and ringtones, he said.

The Delta is the latest region to receive 3G high-speed data services from Cellular South. Earlier this year, 10 counties in southwest Mississippi, including the cities of Natchez, Brookhaven and McComb, received the 3G coverage boost along with Lauderdale County and the city of Meridian in east Mississippi.

In all, Cellular South has deployed 3G service in 78 cities across 26 counties in Mississippi during the second and third quarters this year. Coupled with earlier rollouts of its mobile broadband services that began in 2006 and have continued through 2008 in 80 cities and 25 counties, Cellular South 3G high-speed data service is now available in areas that reach two out of three Mississippians and in 29 of the state's 30 largest cities. "We've deployed 3G high-speed mobile broadband service faster and in more Mississippi markets than any other wireless carrier," Kent said.

Cellular South's network investment will produce long-term benefits for future growth and economic expansion in the Mississippi Delta region, according to Gray Swoope, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, the state's leading economic and community development agency. "High-speed wireless data service is critical for today's businesses and for efforts to diversify the economy in the Mississippi Delta region," Swoope said. "We are pleased that Cellular South, a Mississippi-based company, is investing in the future of the Delta by adding more high-speed data coverage in this part of our state."

Chip Morgan, president of the 1,200 member Delta Council, praised Cellular South for its decision to invest the new mobile broadband technology in the Mississippi Delta region. "We're excited abut Cellular South's efforts to enhance wireless coverage in our area. This investment greatly improves the telecommunications infrastructure in our region and will aid efforts to diversify our regional economy," Morgan said, noting that many businesses considering relocation or expansion examine the telecommunications infrastructure of communities. "High-speed wireless data and the services and applications it supports are becoming increasingly important to both residential and business users."

Since 2006, Cellular South has made $350 million in capital investments in Mississippi as part of its broader $530 million overall network investment and expanded availability of 3G high-speed data services to 500 cell sites across its footprint and built 440 new cell sites. So far this year, the company has activated 173 new sites to build out its 3G mobile broadband network. In other parts of the state, Cellular South will complete work on 75 new cell sites by the end of this year to enhance and improve wireless coverage.

Kent said Cellular South is committed to helping customers get more out of their wireless devices through continued network investment. "In fact, we offer our customers 3G high-speed access on their mobile phones, smart phones and laptop cards in more markets than any other carrier in our primary footprint," he said. "And with our nationwide network of networks, no one else has a better 3G high-speed data network."

The company intends to continue to aggressively invest in its wireless network across the footprint to increase coverage and capacity, Kent said, noting that in addition to its best-in-class nationwide voice and data offerings, Cellular South continues to find new and innovative ways to make customers' wireless experience the best it can be. "We've always believed that even the most advanced wireless device is only as good as the network it runs on," he added.

For more information on Cellular South's 3G high-speed data network or how to get more out of your wireless device, visit www.cellularsouth.com/networks.

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services. The company accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and advanced 3G nationwide wireless voice and data network, offering industry-leading family and unlimited flat rate voice, text and mobile web plans, and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information to get the most out of their mobile phone. For more information, visit www.cellularsouth.com.

Additional information about Cellular South, Inc. and its products and services is available at http://www.cellularsouth.com. This Cellular South news release and other announcements are available at http://www.cellularsouth.com/news/. Or follow our news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cellularsouth. Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ridgeland-MS/Cellular-South/39645673822 to learn more about our wireless services.

About Mississippi Development Authority

Mississippi Development Authority is the state's leading economic and community development agency. Nearly 300 employees are engaged in providing services to businesses, communities and workers in the state. While the agency is best known for its efforts to recruit new businesses to Mississippi, the Authority provides services to promote tourism, help communities improve their quality of place, help existing employers identify and meet opportunities and challenges and help workers improve their skills - all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Mississippians. For more information, visit www.mississippi.org.

About Delta Council

Delta Council is a regional economic development organization representing 18 counties in northwest Mississippi whose 1,200 members work together to help businesses grow and expand through various programs and activities. Organized in 1935, the group acts as facilitator for area agriculture, business and professional leaders to promote growth, expansion and development in the region. For more information, visit www.deltacouncil.org.

SOURCE Cellular South

Source: PR Newswire

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