Cingular Wireless Investing More Than $190 Million in its Ohio Network in 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, is investing more than $190 million in its network in Ohio in 2006, bringing customers even more wireless services, call quality and coverage in their homes, on the road, and at the office.

The 2006 investment in Cingular's Ohio network will bring 144 new cell sites, high-speed data services, along with other enhancements to Cingular's ALLOVER™ Network, which is the nation's largest all-digital voice and data network.

In 2005, Cingular invested nearly $115 million here in Ohio 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 Dori Marks, Vice President & General Manager, Cingular Wireless - Ohio/Western Pennsylvania. "This network investment will enable us to continue to bring residents of Ohio 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 Ohio include:
   - New coverage in Licking County including Newark, Heath, and Granville
   - New coverage in Knox County including Mt. Gilead
   - Enhanced coverage in the Cleveland area, including Wickliffe,
     Willoughby, Orange, Solon, Maple Heights, Strongsville, Rocky River,
     and Geneva on the Lake.
   - Enhanced coverage in the Sandusky area including Norwalk, Fremont, and
     Route 2 to Detroit, MI
   - Enhanced coverage in the Bowling Green area
   - Enhanced coverage in Dayton, Ohio, including the University of Dayton,
     Kettering Hospital and Beavercreek
   - Enhanced coverage in the Cincinnati area, including Bromley, Cheviot,
     Clifton, Brentwood, Wyoming, and Madisonville
   - Enhanced South Eastern Ohio - Between Chillicothe, Portsmouth, and
     Athens
   - 3G UMTS deployment

In Ohio, Cingular has already completed integration with the exception of Cleveland and Youngstown. By the end of the second quarter of 2006, Cingular will have completed the AT&T Wireless network integration in all of Ohio. Network integration involves choosing the best cell sites from both networks, eliminating duplicate equipment, and combining the technologies onto a common network platform.

Network Testing

Cingular diligently monitors the quality and coverage of its network. In addition to third-party vendors who assess the company's network performance, Cingular network engineers constantly monitor the network.

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™, 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., (NYSE: T), and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation-the ALLOVER™ 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®, 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/

SOURCE: Cingular Wireless

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/