Cingular Completes 37 new cell sites in Mississippi

[jones]

Cingular Completes 2005 Network Investment in Mississippi
Thursday January 12, 9:12 am ET
Completes $85 Million Network Investment and Provides Support After Hurricanes Katrina/Rita/Dennis


JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's largest wireless carrier, Cingular Wireless, has completed its 2005 network investment and reflects on a most memorable year.
Cingular has completed its 2005, $85 million in its Mississippi network which included additional coverage and capacity via 37 new cell sites, portable generators and back-up batteries, and roll out of new data features. The local investment was part of Cingular's more than $1.5 billion Southeast network capital investment and estimated $6.2 billion national network capital expenditure program during 2005.

"Cingular's commitment to our customers in Mississippi is to meet - and exceed -- their needs by continually upgrading and expanding our network and by offering innovative products, services, customer-friendly initiatives and community support second to none," said Doyle Warrington, Director of Sales for Cingular's Central/North Mississippi markets. "I am pleased with the progress we've made this year and look forward to taking it to the next level for our customers even more in 2006."


Among other 2005 highlights for Cingular customers in the region were:
Cell Sites

Last year, Cingular announced plans to add an estimated 37 cell sites across Mississippi in 2005. The cell site expansion effort has been successfully completed, enabling the company to add new service or enhance existing service throughout the region. Some recent cell site additions include the following:


City of Oxford and Lafayette County (added 3 new cell sites in 2005)
* Enhanced coverage along Hwy 6 East of Oxford and going into Pontotoc
County
* Enhanced coverage along Hwy 30 between Oxford and New Albany

Cities of Biloxi/Gulfport and Harrison & Jackson Counties (added 4 new
sites in 2005)
* Increased coverage on Popps Ferry Road and in the city of Diberville.
* Increased coverage in Long Beach as well as the industrial park
* Increased coverage on Pass Road and at the Gulf Coast Community College.

City of Natchez and Adams County (added one new site in 2005)
* Increased coverage in downtown Natchez

City of Tupelo and Lee County (added one new site in 2005)
* Increased coverage in the Western part of Tupelo surrounding the
intersection of W. Main St. and Thomas St. in Tupelo

City of Jackson and Hinds & Rankin Counties (added three sites in 2005)
* Enhanced coverage near Hwy 468 and Hwy 469
* Enhanced coverage on Davis Road West of Byram between Siwell Road &
Springridge Road

City of Vicksburg and Warren County (added 2 cell sites in 2005)
* Increased coverage in the Fisher Ferry Road, Nailor Road and Goodrum
Road areas south of Vicksburg.
* Increased coverage along Hwy. 27 & the surrounding area between
Vicksburg, MS & the Hinds/Warren county line.

Cities of Madison and Ridgeland & Madison County (built one site in 2005)
* Increased coverage along Hwy 16 between Canton, MS and Farmhaven.

Recently, Cingular Wireless earned the Most Reliable network rating among national wireless carriers in Tupelo and Meridian. This rating was based on drive test results from a leading wireless research company that provides information, insight and performance measurements for the wireless industry.