AT&T Invested More Than $1.5 Billion In North Carolina From 2010 Through 2012 To Enhance Speeds, Reliability And Performance For Customers

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* invested more than $1.5 billion in its North Carolina wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, with a focus on expanding 4G LTE mobile Internet coverage and enhancing the overall performance of its networks.**

AT&T has made more than 1,475 wireless network upgrades in six key categories in North Carolina during 2012, including activating new cell sites, adding capacity, upgrading cell sites to provide fast 4G LTE mobile Internet speeds, deploying high-capacity Ethernet connections to cell sites, and adding or upgrading Distributed Antenna Systems, which boost wireless coverage and capacity in buildings and at major venues like convention halls or sports arenas.

"AT&T's investment sends a strong signal to citizens and businesses considering locating here that North Carolina is not only a great place to live but a place where you can succeed," said Gov. Pat McCrory. "I am pleased that AT&T remains committed to providing the infrastructure needed to provide North Carolina with the best communications technology."

AT&T launched 4G LTE in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Burlington, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Wilmington and Fayetteville in 2012. AT&T 4G LTE is the latest generation of wireless network technology and provides faster mobile Internet speeds and improved performance on a variety of mobile smartphones and tablets. 

The AT&T 4G LTE network has been nationally recognized for its speed and coverage. AT&T 4G LTE delivered faster average download speeds than any of the competitors in PCWorld's most recent 13-market speed tests, and telecommunications industry analyst firm Frost and Sullivan awarded AT&T its North American Mobile Network Strategy Award for the second year in a row in 2012.

"Across North Carolina, this robust investment in the AT&T wireless and wireline networks is important to spurring the economy and creating jobs. In our wireless world, mobile and broadband networks help create economic opportunities for health care, manufacturing, education, transportation and public safety and virtually every other economic sector," said Venessa Harrison, AT&T's Regional Vice President of External Affairs in North Carolina.

"We know our customers depend on us for fast, reliable mobile Internet connections at home, work and everywhere in between," said Laurent Therivel, AT&T vice president general manager for the Carolinas. "Delivering for our North Carolina customers is a top priority and our ongoing investment here is designed to deliver a superior mobile Internet experience, encompassing speed, coverage and reliability."

Planned Investment to Expand Reach of Wireless and Wired Broadband

AT&T recently launched Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment initiative to expand and enhance its wireless and wired IP broadband networks. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to increase the density of its wireless network by deploying more than 10,000 macro sites, more than 1,000 distributed antenna systems, and more than 40,000 small cells. Through this initiative, we also plan to: