AT&T Building Most Advanced Mobile Broadband Experience in Greater Orlando, Announces 2011 Network Upgrade Plans

AT&T to Expand Backhaul in 2011 in Greater Orlando to Enable 4G Speeds, Increase Mobile Broadband Capacity, Upgrade Hundreds of Cell Sites

Orlando, Florida, ---

AT&T*, building on its strong 2010 record of network accomplishments, today announced network improvement plans designed to enable 4G speeds** and enhanced reliability to Greater Orlando and surrounding communities in 2011. The wireless network enhancement plans are part of AT&T’s planned $19-billion investment in its U.S. wireless and wireline networks and other capital projects in 2011.

Marshall Criser, state president, AT&T Florida, says AT&T plans the following network improvements in the Greater Orlando area in 2011:

- Deploying enhanced backhaul connections to more than 200 of the area’s cell sites. Combined with HSPA+ technology, these backhaul deployments enable 4G speeds.

- Delivering additional wireless capacity to more than 300 cell sites in the area through the addition of new layers of frequency, also known as “carriers.” Adding extra capacity to a cell site is like widening a highway – you’re creating more lanes to accommodate increasing traffic.

- Installing multiple new cell sites to improve network coverage

- Deploying and upgrading multiple Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks at key areas, including numerous hotels in Orlando’s theme park area, and in other high-traffic areas, to enhance network coverage during events and provide enhanced wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience. A DAS installation consists of several strategically placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout the area, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily trafficked areas.

“Our story is getting even better for Orlando and Florida,” Criser said. “Our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA represents a great deal for customers and a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network. In fact, this deal, if approved, means that we’ll be able to expand the next generation of mobile broadband – 4G LTE – from our current plan of 80 percent of the U.S. population to 95 percent.”

Criser said the T-Mobile acquisition provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending wireless exhaust situation facing both companies while adding cell towers. Additional towers mean additional capacity which means fewer dropped calls. “We’ll be able to provide better voice quality and data performance to our customers,” he said.

AT&T invested nearly $500 million in its Greater Orlando wireless and wireline network from 2008 through 2010 as part of its commitment to superior service in the area. This year’s plans build upon the improvements AT&T completed in 2010 to strengthen the Greater Orlando area mobile broadband network, including:

- Installing approximately nine new 3G cell sites

- Adding spectrum carriers to over 360 cell sites

- Deploying DAS networks at nearly 10 venues, including service at Amway Center in Orlando

The nation’s fastest mobile broadband network is getting faster with 4G. A key planned upgrade for 2011 is deployment of enhanced backhaul connections to more than 290 cell sites in Greater Orlando to enable 4G speeds. Backhaul connections carry traffic between cell sites and AT&T’s nationwide network. Enhanced fiber-optic and ethernet backhaul connections expand capacity many times over, and enable additional expansion in the years to come.

“We’re investing in our Greater Orlando network to help AT&T customers take advantage of the numerous capabilities of their wireless devices,” said Rich Guidotti, vice president and general manager, AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets for Central, West and North Florida. “This year, we’re committed to providing best-in-class wireless voice service to our customers, and we’re backing that up with the right investments.”

The investments made in the Orlando area wireless and wireline networks are part of the $2.8 billion AT&T invested from 2008-2010 across Florida, Criser said.

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-only 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.

“AT&T is consistently among the top companies in the U.S. in terms of our capital investment and we’re committed to helping our customers right here in Central Florida take advantage of the numerous capabilities of their wireless devices,” Criser added.

“High-tech expansions like this one helps our business community, our local economy and our overall quality of life,” said Jacob Stuart, president, Central Florida Partnership. “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.”

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 has a broad portfolio of smartphones and devices, with 20 4G devices planned for 2011, including a robust Android lineup. And we’re driving development of wide-ranging mobile applications with three AT&T Foundry collaborative innovation centers planned for this year, 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 provides access to more than 135,000 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 Greater Orlando 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. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Requires 4G device. Learn more at att.com/network. Actual speeds experienced will vary and depend on several factors, including device, location, capacity, facilities, and other conditions.

*** 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.