Cingular Has Twice As Many Cell Sites- FL

[jones]

Cingular Completes Network Integration in Sarasota and Bradenton
With the Cingular and Former AT&T Wireless Networks Fully Combined, Customers Now Have Access to Nearly Twice As Many Cell Sites


ORLANDO, Fla., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless customers in Sarasota and Bradenton now have more bars in more places thanks to the integration of the Cingular Wireless and former AT&T Wireless networks. With both networks now fully combined into one, Cingular customers have access to nearly twice as many cell sites in Sarasota and Bradenton, which translates into fewer dropped calls, improved call quality, new coverage where none existed before, and better in-building, in-car and pedestrian coverage for customers.

"This is the single largest increase in coverage that our Sarasota and Bradenton customers have ever experienced," said Dan Norman, VP/GM for Cingular's North Florida market, which covers southwest Florida across the state north to Panama City and just over the Georgia line. "Almost overnight our network was transformed, giving our customers access to dozens of additional cell sites."

When Cingular and AT&T Wireless merged in October 2004, customers received a better experience immediately because they had access to more cell sites in more places through "home-on-home" roaming. Now, with the completion of the network integration in Sarasota and Bradenton, the two networks can "talk" to each other, establishing the call through the closest cell site and passing the call seamlessly from site to site. Customers not only have access to more cell sites, but also have all the cell sites in Sarasota and Bradenton working together for them.

Planning and preparation for the network integration, which involved choosing the best cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and combining technologies onto a common network, started a year ago. The actual integration of the two networks took less than two months.

The integration is part of a $360 million investment by the nation's largest wireless carrier in its Florida network in 2006. The investment also includes the addition of portable and permanent generators, and the deployment of a third generation (3G) high-speed broadband wireless network this summer that will allow customers to access information and applications at broadband speeds between 400-700 kilobits per second.

Since 2005, Cingular has invested more than $435 million in its North Florida network alone, and approximately $13 billion nationwide. By the end of the first quarter of 2006, Cingular will have completed the AT&T Wireless network integration in more than 80 percent of its Southeast cities. Cingular also will launch its 3G wireless network technology in more than 20 Southeast cities this year.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/pro...411&ID=5635643

[TurboDan]

Wow! Between this, and the Philadelphia post in the Northeast forum, it looks like Cingular really is on schedule with the 3G expansion.