Cingular Wireless Adding 67 Cell Sites in Tennessee

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Investing $160 Million in Tennessee Network This Year
Wednesday July 27, 8:00 am ET
Nation's Largest Carrier Adding 67 Cell Sites to its ALLOVER(SM) Network


BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless voice and data network is getting larger in Tennessee. Cingular Wireless plans to invest more than $160 million in its Tennessee network before year's end, integrating the Cingular and AT&T Wireless networks, increasing coverage and capacity, building 67 new cell sites, adding portable generators and back-up batteries, and offering enhanced new features. Cingular's local investment is part of a $6.2 billion commitment to enhance and expand its ALLOVER(SM) Network* nationwide.
"Better coverage is what wireless consumers want, and better coverage is what Cingular is delivering," said Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager for Cingular's Tennessee and Kentucky markets. "In 2005, we are continuing to make a huge investment in technology to provide our customers with a wireless experience that is second-to-none."

Year-to-date, Cingular has turned on 14 new cell sites in Tennessee and will add 53 more before the end of 2005.


Some of the network enhancements already completed this year include:
- In-building coverage in the State of Tennessee Capital buildings and
parking structures located in downtown Nashville;
- Additional coverage in the McEwen and Tennessee City communities in
southwest Dickson and western Humphreys counties;
- Additional coverage in the Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and
Clarksville areas in central Tennessee;
- Improved coverage along U.S. 421 between Shady Valley and Mountain
City, along U.S. 25E at Thorn Hill, and along SR 33 west of Tazewell in
east Tennessee; and,
- Expanded coverage in northeast Jackson and Arlington in west Tennessee.

Network enhancements planned for the rest of 2005 include coverage expansion in:


- The communities of Kingsport, Greenville, Mohawk, Knoxville,
Crossville, Huntsville, Onieda, and Wartburg, and along U.S. 23 south
of Big Stone Gap and Interstate 181 between Baileytown and Fall Branch
in east Tennessee;
- Chattanooga, Sparta, Lynchburg, Cowan, Belfast, Nashville, Bethpage,
and Clarksville in central Tennessee; and,
- Hardeman County, Memphis, Mahon, and Ripley in west Tennessee.

The Tennessee network integration is already underway and slated to be completed by September 2006.

Since its merger with AT&T Wireless last fall, Cingular has focused on high-quality coverage, reliability and reach. Cingular's ALLOVER(SM) Network now covers more than 270 million people and provides service throughout the U.S., including the top 100 markets. By the end of 2006, Cingular customers will have access to some 45,000 cell sites nationwide.

[cryogenic]

Originally Posted by jones Cingular Wireless Investing $160 Million in Tennessee Network This Year Wednesday July 27, 8:00 am ET Nation's Largest Carrier Adding 67 Cell Sites to its ALLOVER(SM) Network BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless voice and data network is getting larger in Tennessee. Cingular Wireless plans to invest more than $160 million in its Tennessee network before year's end, integrating the Cingular and AT&T Wireless networks, increasing coverage and capacity, building 67 new cell sites, adding portable generators and back-up batteries, and offering enhanced new features. Cingular's local investment is part of a $6.2 billion commitment to enhance and expand its ALLOVER(SM) Network* nationwide. "Better coverage is what wireless consumers want, and better coverage is what Cingular is delivering," said Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager for Cingular's Tennessee and Kentucky markets. "In 2005, we are continuing to make a huge investment in technology to provide our customers with a wireless experience that is second-to-none." Year-to-date, Cingular has turned on 14 new cell sites in Tennessee and will add 53 more before the end of 2005. Some of the network enhancements already completed this year include: - In-building coverage in the State of Tennessee Capital buildings and parking structures located in downtown Nashville; - Additional coverage in the McEwen and Tennessee City communities in southwest Dickson and western Humphreys counties; - Additional coverage in the Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Clarksville areas in central Tennessee; - Improved coverage along U.S. 421 between Shady Valley and Mountain City, along U.S. 25E at Thorn Hill, and along SR 33 west of Tazewell in east Tennessee; and, - Expanded coverage in northeast Jackson and Arlington in west Tennessee. Network enhancements planned for the rest of 2005 include coverage expansion in: - The communities of Kingsport, Greenville, Mohawk, Knoxville, Crossville, Huntsville, Onieda, and Wartburg, and along U.S. 23 south of Big Stone Gap and Interstate 181 between Baileytown and Fall Branch in east Tennessee; - Chattanooga, Sparta, Lynchburg, Cowan, Belfast, Nashville, Bethpage, and Clarksville in central Tennessee; and, - Hardeman County, Memphis, Mahon, and Ripley in west Tennessee. The Tennessee network integration is already underway and slated to be completed by September 2006. Since its merger with AT&T Wireless last fall, Cingular has focused on high-quality coverage, reliability and reach. Cingular's ALLOVER(SM) Network now covers more than 270 million people and provides service throughout the U.S., including the top 100 markets. By the end of 2006, Cingular customers will have access to some 45,000 cell sites nationwide.

Highlighted above are areas that have had issues for a LONGGG time... it's about time Cingular decided to fix those areas. As a matter of fact, much of the area around Tazewell, TN was just completely dead unless you had a GAIT phone, at which time you would roam on Eloqui Wireless. The Wartburg area also was pretty much dead (another Eloqui area). What's really odd about Wartburg is that a few miles south just outside of Harriman (Morgan Co. line) Cingular is the ONLY provider that works as they have a tower right on Hwy 27 south but that's basically the last tower for quite a ways. Now, if Cingular would just put up a couple of towers along Hwy 61 near Big Ridge State Park (an area Verizon works wonderfully) they'd have some of the best coverage in the greater Knoxville area.

[DarrylLeeOHS30]

I'm interested to see how many vzw/eloqui customers will switch to Cingular here. I can't wait for all my family in Knoxville to be able to use their Cingular phones here.

[roamer1]

As usual...nothing in Meigs County, nothing in Polk County, nothing in northern Rhea County (why exactly is there a dead zone between Dayton and Rockwood? Even Nextel works in Spring City) I don't get why Cingular ignores those areas like they do...

-SC

[cryogenic]

Originally Posted by roamer1 As usual...nothing in Meigs County, nothing in Polk County, nothing in northern Rhea County (why exactly is there a dead zone between Dayton and Rockwood? Even Nextel works in Spring City) I don't get why Cingular ignores those areas like they do... -SC

holy crap.. they've STILL not fixed Spring City? I haven't had Cingular for 2 yrs and it didn't work there then.. still doesn't work there now? That's kinda bad. Verizon works fine there... and if Nextel does, then anyone should. And come on, Stanley... did you REALLY expect them to put anything up in Polk Co?

[jones]

according to Cingular press Releases
their Goal is access to more than 45,000 Cell Sites
nationwide by 2006.
Hopefully it will include those ares.

[DarrylLeeOHS30]

I never really expected them to put anything up in Oneida, really. It kinda surprised people when VZW came here, but I'm glad that Cingular is coming in, because it'll give people more of a choice, and elqoui will have even more competition and will have to drive their prices down AGAIN... they droppe dramatically when verizon came into this area.

[DarrylLeeOHS30]

anyone know when theyll update coverage maps? None of the updates already made are reflected on it, it still shows coverage dropping off at LaFollette, and then the whole area from Lafollette to around where middle Tn starts are in white (no service.) (the white spot almost reflects eloqui's coverage area!! lol)

[cryogenic]

It's usually a few months before they update the coverage maps... they don't necessarily update them everytime they increase coverage, they just release new maps every so often (not sure what their timeframe is).