Cingular Wireless completes 108 cell sites to enhance network in 69 Georgia Counties

[jones]

Cingular Wireless Nears Completion of Its 2004 $100 Million Georgia Network Expansion Campaign
Monday October 4, 9:07 am ET
Company completes 108 cell sites to enhance local network in 69 Georgia Counties


ATLANTA, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless today announced it is nearing the completion of its 2004 network investment campaign which is bringing greater coverage and enhanced service to Cingular's growing Georgia customer base in 69 counties across the state. The more than $100 million investment includes the addition of nearly 140 new cell sites and enhancements to existing sites. This network campaign is enhancing call quality, multiplying capacity and extending the network's reach across the state.
So far this year, Cingular has added more than 108 cell sites and expects to add another 32 sites in the fourth quarter, completing this year's campaign. Cingular has invested more than $1.3 billion over the years to support the surge in network usage, the provision of new services and the build-out of a next-generation network in Georgia.

"Cingular's focus in 2004 has been to improve the overall customer experience and making continual investments in our network is a critical component of this effort," said Cliff Minor, Vice President and General Manager for Cingular Wireless-Georgia. "We have focused our resources on vastly improving coverage, particularly in residential and commercial areas and in-building locations throughout the region."

The enhancements are taking place in the following areas:

Coastal Georgia:
- Augusta: enhanced coverage and capacity in residential areas in North
Augusta, SC between Martintown Rd. & the Savannah River; on Highway 25
(Peach Orchard Road); along I-20 at the Savannah River, RiverWatch
Parkway and mile north into SC; in the Southwest portion of North
Augusta, SC in Buena Vista area; on I-20 East of Augusta; along I-20 in
Warren and Taliaferro Counties connecting Thomson GA to Greensboro GA.
- Savannah: enhanced coverage to U.S. 17 between Hardeeville & Savannah
and Hardeeville Speedway; along U.S. 21 & U.S. 301 south of Statesboro,
GA near Register; improved coverage in the vicinity of Moss Creek and
the bridge to Hilton Head Island, SC; improved coverage in the Town of
Dover and along U.S. 301 between Statesboro & Sylvania.
- Brunswick: enhanced coverage in Ocean Forest Golf Club, northern end of
Sea Island, Sea Island Lodge and Golf Club on southern end of St.
Simons Island.

North Georgia:
- New and enhanced coverage for 39 cities in 24 Counties.
- Athens: enhanced coverage in downtown area.
- Winder: enhanced coverage in the city of Winder along U.S. 211 and
U.S. 29.
- Blue Ridge/Ellijay: enhanced coverage throughout Blue Ridge, Ellijay,
Commerce, Eastanollee, and Jasper.
- Carrollton/Roopville: enhanced coverage along I-20 and Highway 166 near
Carrollton and Roopville. New coverage in Roopville near Highway S.R.
2725; in Bowden near Highway S.R. 100; and NW of Carrollton on
Highway 61.
- Jasper, Dahlonega, Ballground, Conyers, Gainesville and Dawsonville:
enhanced coverage throughout these cities.

Middle and South Georgia:
- Brand new coverage in 6 counties covering 11 cities.
- Macon/Warner Robins: enhanced coverage along the Gray Highway to Macon
and downtown; and in Warner Robins, Gray, Perry and Jeffersonville. New
coverage South of Macon near Skippertown on U.S. 41.
- Montezuma, Gray, Jeffersonville, Perry and McDonough: enhanced coverage
throughout these cities.
- Hawkinsville, Eastman, Cochran and McRae: brand new coverage throughout
these cities.

Metro Atlanta:
- New and enhanced coverage in 10 counties and 18 cities.
- Canton, Waleska, Woodstock: enhanced coverage in Canton near
Highway S.R. 140 and near Bells Ferry Road; and in Woodstock near
Highway S.R. 92.
- Atlanta: enhanced coverage in the downtown areas of Atlanta, Decatur
and Powder Springs.
- College Park: enhanced coverage in downtown College Park.


"Cingular continues to go beyond the big cities and Interstates to provide our customers with an advanced network that gives them the ability to make a call when they want and where they want," said Rick Clawson, Executive Director of Network Operations, Cingular Wireless-Georgia. "Cingular is committed to making its great network even better with ongoing network enhancements that allow us to grow and expand with the communities we serve."

Cingular launched its advanced GSM/GPRS network in Georgia in 2003, and since then has focused on improving coverage and capacity throughout the region. GSM is the Global System for Mobile Communications, giving customers the latest technology advances, including phones with greater functionality and unique features, high-speed data connectivity and superior sound quality.

Source:Cingular Wireless

[jones]

Did anyone notice a change in their coverage?

[agentHibby]

For the past few months you see alot of articles on Cingular putting up tons of towers! I think that is good.
My question is after this merger is complete will you see tons of new towers like now going up for Cingular? Or will you see a slow down for a year or so because they will be working/spending on network merging?

[jones]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

will you see a slow down for a year or so because they will be working/spending on network merging?

I believe this is true.

[WirelessBeachBum]

Originally Posted by jones

Did anyone notice a change in their coverage?

No changes in the Bluffton/Moss Creek area, you still drop calls crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head.

[jones]

Cingular has added more than 108 cell sites and expects to add another 32 sites in the fourth quarter, completing this year's campaign

That's most likely in the additional 32 Sites.