117 new cell sites in Ohio - CINGULAR

[jones]

Cingular Wireless to Invest $62.3 Million Dollars in Ohio to Enhance Service Quality and Expand Coverage
Friday August 26, 10:12 am ET
Company to Build 117 Cell Sites to Better Serve its ALLOVER(SM) Network Customers


COLUMBUS, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the country's largest wireless provider, announced it will invest about $62.3 million throughout Ohio in 2005 to install 117 new cell sites as part of a $6.2 billion commitment to enhance and expand its ALLOVER(SM) network nationwide.
The network improvements will enable Cingular customers in Ohio to experience the highest level of voice service quality and offer some of the most advanced data services to more customers in more places.

"Better coverage is what wireless consumers want, and better coverage is exactly what Cingular is delivering," said Dori Marks, vice president and general manager for the Ohio region. "We continually make improvements to our network so that our customers have a quality wireless experience."

Cingular customers will have access to some 45,000 cell sites nationally by the end of 2006. The company already offers customers access to the largest digital voice and data network in America, and Ohio is an important part of that network.

"This investment demonstrates our commitment to aggressively continue to provide better quality service to our customers," said Marks. "That strong customer focus is one of the reasons Cingular recently reached 50 million customers -- the first wireless carrier to attain this important milestone. Customers know they can rely on us to meet their needs. That's why they choose us and why they stay with us."

Cingular's ALLOVER network now covers more than 270 million people, and provides service throughout the United States including the top 100 markets. Customers on specific calling plans now have access to the largest mobile-to- mobile calling community in the country -- with free access to more than 50 million people.

As part of its network build out and enhancement, Cingular has stepped up efforts to ensure its investments to extend coverage and enhance quality are realized. The company expects its employees and those of other third-party companies to drive test its network nearly 30 million miles over the next year -- that's the equivalent of more than 50 round trips to the moon.

The company's network growth relies on advanced GSM/EDGE technology. GSM is the world standard for wireless communication, used by more than a billion people in 200-plus countries. In fact, more than 70 percent of the world's total wireless market is GSM. The widespread use of GSM offers Cingular customers the ability to use a large variety of GSM "world phones" and devices in more than 125 countries to make calls and access data services in more than 70 countries.

For customers interested in wireless data services, the company's EDGE network -- the fastest national high-speed data network in America -- provides average data connections of up to 135 kilobits per second in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along nearly 40,000 miles of highways.

Last but not least, Cingular also offers faster network speeds through its UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) data network. UMTS offers average data connection speeds between 220 and 320kbps.

As part of its 2005 investment, Cingular will deploy high-speed third generation (3G) UMTS/HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System /High Speed Downlink Packet Access) service to customers in 15-20 major markets this year. The company expects to offer its 3G services in most major markets by the end of 2006.

The 3G service will offer average data speeds between 400-700 kbps and bursts to several megabits per second. Customers using the 3G service will be able use a wireless handset to make a voice call and simultaneously check e- mail, browse the Internet at speeds similar to broadband wired services, or even access a variety of video services.

For more information about Cingular, please contact 1-866-CINGULAR or visit http://www.cingular.com .

[coalminer]

I wonder if this is going to be in western Ohio, if you look a the coverage map, there is not much GSM in western Ohio, where both cellular blocks are CDMA. Maybe cover some of those blank areas on the map. I wonder if they are going to take some of that equipment from the sites they take down in the Cleveland area and use it out there??????

[jones]

on one of the PR

Citing competitive reasons, Cingular wouldn't give exact figures for the Dayton area, but company officials did say that some of the 117 towers would be built here, increasing by 10 percent the number of towers locally.

The new sites will bring the Ohio total to about 1,500.

[Cailiff04]

How about the Findlay area? Any plans for new towers here??

[jones]

How about the Findlay area? Any plans for new towers here??

That's what field testers do,
they check their competitors coverage.
So, if their competitors has coverage in that area they sure will.
Other input are from customers complaint.