INDIANAPOLIS, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, is investing more than $40 million in its network in Indiana in 2006, bringing customers even more wireless services, call quality and coverage on the road, at the office, and in their homes.

The 2006 investment in Cingular's Indiana network will bring almost 90 new cell sites, high-speed data services, the addition of portable and permanent generators, the integration of the network assets of the former AT&T Wireless, and other enhancements to Cingular's ALLOVER(TM) Network, which is the nation's largest all-digital voice and data network.

In 2005, Cingular invested more than $90 million here in Indiana on network improvements. Nationwide, the company spent $6.5 billion on its network and plans to do the same in 2006, bringing its overall investment since the company's 2004 acquisition of AT&T Wireless to more than $13 billion.

"Our ongoing focus is ensuring Cingular customers have the best wireless experience possible-which includes unmatched coverage and quality of service," said Brian Ducharme, vice president & general manager, Cingular Wireless- Indiana and Michigan. "This network investment will enable us to continue to bring residents of Indiana the highest quality service available-service that is enhanced by best-in-industry calling plan value and cutting-edge devices."

Network enhancements planned for 2006 in Indiana include: - 3G UMTS deployment across the Indianapolis metro area late this summer. - Improvements for Fort Wayne and South Bend Indiana including Notre Dame University. - Enhanced coverage in Clarksville - Enhanced coverage in Oaklandon - Enhanced coverage in Zionsville - Enhanced coverage in Carmel - Enhanced coverage in Bargersville - Enhanced coverage in Trafalger - Enhanced coverage in Greenfield - Enhanced coverage in Alexandria - Enhanced coverage in Bloomington - Enhanced coverage in Darlington - Enhanced coverage in West Lafayette - New coverage in Frankfort - Enhanced coverage in East Terre Haute - Enhanced coverage in Seymour - New coverage in Orleans - Enhanced coverage in Downtown Vincennes - Enhanced coverage in Fairmount - Enhanced coverage in Hayden

By the end of the first quarter of 2006, Cingular completed the AT&T Wireless network integration in more than 426 sites across Indiana and fully completed its integration in Indianapolis. Network integration involves choosing the best cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and combining the technologies onto a common network platform.

Significantly, Cingular recently launched its third-generation (3G) wireless network technology in 16 major cities, with more to follow across the country. With 3G, customers will access information and applications at broadband speeds in the office, on the road or at home. The service-via laptop data cards or 3G-compatible phones this year -provides average mobile data connections between 400-700Kbps (kilobits per second) on the downlink with bursts to more than a megabit per second.

"Last year, we invested over $1.8 billion in our network and added more than 780 cell sites in the Indiana/Michigan markets alone-2006 will be another landmark year for Indiana and Michigan," said Ducharme. "Network integration further improves our already stellar coverage and call capacity."

Network Testing

Cingular diligently monitors the quality and coverage of its network. In addition to third-party research companies who assess the company's network performance, Cingular network engineers constantly monitor the network, driving approximately 450,000 miles of highway across Indiana and Michigan each year to ensure its network is operating at peak efficiency. That's equivalent to more than 17 trips around the world.

Enhancing the Customer Experience

Thanks to its advanced network, Cingular customers use the best services that wireless can offer. For example, customers can choose from an exciting array of wireless devices including the recently launched Motorola SLVR, Cingular's second handset capable of downloading iTunes directly from a PC. Another of many innovative services available is Cingular Sounds Live, which will utilize the company's on-demand streaming video service, Cingular Video(TM), so that customers can watch concert highlights on their 3G- compatible wireless phones.

Additionally the company offers an interactive mapping tool at all retail locations and by calling 1-866-CINGULAR. The tool provides customers with up- to-date wireless coverage information and is designed to answer a customer's specific wireless coverage questions based on an address, street intersection, zip code or even a landmark. This tool will soon be available online to current Cingular customers and to those shopping for cellular service.

For more information about Cingular, call 1-866-CINGULAR or visit http://www.cingular.com/

About Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving 54.1 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between AT&T Inc., formerly SBC Communications Inc., , and BellSouth Corporation , has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation-the ALLOVER(TM) network-and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(R), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.com/

CONTACT: Tara Traycoff of Cingular Wireless, +1-314-543-6435, or
wireless, +1-314-809-6112, or Tara.traycoff@cingular.com

Web site: http://www.cingular.com/
http://cingular.mediaroom.com/