AT&T Invests Nearly $100 Million in Hawaii From 2009 Through 2011 to Improve Local Networks

Company Builds New Cell Sites, Boosts Capacity and Adds Fiber Optics to Enhance Networks

AT&T* invested nearly $100 million in its Hawaii wireless and wireline networks from 2009 through 2011 with a focus on improving the company's mobile broadband coverage and overall performance of its networks.

During 2011, AT&T made nearly 325 wireless network upgrades in three key categories in Hawaii. These enhancements include:

• Activating six new cell sites or towers to improve network coverage.
• Deploying faster fiber-optic connections to more than 110 cell sites. Combined with HSPA+ technology, these deployments enable 4G speeds**.
• Adding capacity or an extra layer of frequency to cell sites – like adding lanes to a highway – with the addition of nearly 200 of these layers, or "carriers."

"Our goal is to deliver a network experience that mobilizes everything for customers," said Tammi Terrell, vice president and general manager, AT&T. "The ongoing investment we're making in Hawaii is designed to increase coverage and reliability, and to provide advanced services to our customers."

CNN Money recently recognized AT&T for enhancing its wireless network. Last year, AT&T completed 150,000 network enhancements across the country, more than triple the year before, giving customers more capacity and faster speeds, as well as improving 3G dropped-call performance by 25 percent.

"More than ever, we use wireless communications to stay connected with family, friends and business colleagues," said Dan Youmans, president AT&T - Hawaii. "AT&T's continued investment in its wireless network ensures that Hawaii's residents, businesses and visitors can communicate and perform at optimal levels."

AT&T plans to support the build or upgrade of thousands of cell sites nationwide to increase network speed, coverage and reliability for both mobile voice and broadband services. In addition, AT&T plans to install additional radio "carriers" at thousands of cell sites nationally, enabling new layers of spectrum capacity to carry larger volumes of mobile broadband traffic. Additional capacity helps support rising mobile data traffic volumes, which continue to increase at a rapid pace.

AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network*** with nearly 30,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to nearly 190,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. 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.

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Hawaii or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

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* 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.

** 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. 4G device required. Learn more at att.com/network.

*** Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

Contacts:

For AT&T
Anna Crowe, 619-284-1714
anna@gablepr.com