COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is driving investment and innovation across Ohio to deliver superior 4G service and the best possible mobile Internet experience.
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In the first half of 2012, AT&T invested $212 million in its Ohio wireless and wired networks. The network upgrades include activation of new cell sites or towers to improve network coverage, deploying faster connections to enable 4G speeds, and adding spectrum capacity to support additional traffic.
First-half upgrade highlights include:
- Launch of 4G LTE on more than 360 cell sites, covering the greater Akron, Canton and Cleveland areas as well as a number of surrounding communities.
- Adding capacity or an extra layer of frequency to cell sites – like adding lanes to a highway – with the addition of more than 440 of these layers, or "carriers," statewide. These additions included enhancements to the wireless capacity and performance of AT&T's mobile Internet network throughout the greater Cincinnati area, as well as in communities such as Lorain, Mantua, Marion, Pataskala and Zanesville.
- Increased the coverage of AT&T's mobile Internet network, with enhancements made to more than 40 cell sites, including the communities of Cambridge, Ashland and Mansfield.
- Activating more than 15 new cell sites to improve network coverage in communities including Andover, Athens, Minster and Portsmouth.
"Investments in mobile Internet technologies drive our economy in a number of different areas like small business, high-tech manufacturing, health care and education," said Tom Niehaus, President of the Ohio Senate. "It is critical for consumers and businesses to have access to the latest communications technology in our information-driven economy."
AT&T network upgrades in Ohio also include deployment of new Wi-Fi hot spots and backbone network connections.
"Investments in mobile Internet throughout Ohio will help consumers and businesses who are working hard to rebuild Ohio's economy," said State Representative Bill Batchelder, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. "Furthermore, these investments in mobile Internet are a critical economic driver for Ohio to remain competitive."
AT&T's innovation and investment has resulted in the nation's largest 4G network, covering 275 million people with ultra-fast speeds and a more consistent user experience. AT&T is the only U.S. service provider to deploy two compatible 4G technologies to deliver more speed to more smartphone customers. Our 4G LTE network delivered faster average download speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld's most recent 13-market speed tests.
"We're working to build a network that's smarter and better to provide our customers with a superior mobile Internet experience," said AT&T Ohio state president Tom Pelto. "The ongoing investment we're making across Ohio is designed to increase coverage, reliability and speed. We also continue to invest in technologies like Wi-Fi and DAS to help provide customers with the best connections when they want it, whatever they're doing."
AT&T's 4G LTE network delivers speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G**, as well as multiple innovations that optimize the network for performance. Our network's radio components are placed close to the antenna at most cell sites, instead of inside the base station, which helps minimize power loss between the base station and antenna and, in turn, improves the performance of our LTE network. The network also is designed with its core elements distributed across the country, which helps reduce latency, or the delay when using the Internet, because your request isn't traveling as far.
"Thanks to the leadership of our elected leaders like Governor John Kasich, Senate President Niehaus and House Speaker Batchelder, we are seeing companies invest in technology which is essential to grow Ohio's economy," said Andrew Doehrel, President, Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Even as AT&T continues to expand its LTE coverage in 2012 and 2013, customers can get 4G speeds outside of 4G LTE areas on our 4G HSPA+ network, unlike competitors, where smartphone customers fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage.
AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network*** including more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers across the country. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans.
AT&T also is a leading developer of Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks, which utilize multiple small antennas to maximize coverage and speed within stadiums, convention centers, office buildings, hotels and other areas where traditional coverage methods are challenging.
Over the past five years, AT&T invested more than $115 billion into operations and into acquiring spectrum and other assets that have enhanced our wireless and wired networks. Since 2007, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a July 2012 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. "Investment Heroes."
For more information about AT&T's coverage in Ohio or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. Deployment ongoing. 4G LTE device and data plan required. Up to 10x claim compares 4G LTE download speeds to industry average 3G download speeds. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more about 4G LTE at att.com/network.
***Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.
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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.