AT&T Mobile Internet Coverage Is Enhanced at State Capitol Building

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 29, 2014 — As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* has expanded its mobile Internet coverage at the Illinois State Capitol by completing the installation of a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance the customer experience throughout the facility.

“Critical information is coming into and out of the state capitol every day and we want our customers to have a great network experience whether they are checking email, downloading apps, surfing the internet or posting to social media sites,” said Paul La Schiazza, AT&T Illinois President.   “This cutting edge small antenna system in the State Capitol building will improve mobile internet coverage in the state capitol for those who come into the building to work or visit.  This is another of example of how AT&T is investing in Illinois.”

AT&T made the investment for the enhanced antenna system.  No taxpayer dollars were spent to install the system.   From 2011-2013 AT&T invested nearly $2.95 billion in wired and wireless networks in Illinois.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office and the Office of the Capitol Architect worked with AT&T to determine the appropriate placement of the antennas in the Capitol building.    

“Using innovations in technology to improve communication at the State Capitol benefits visitors and employees,” said Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.  “I applaud AT&T for their efforts on this important project.”

A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout the Illinois State Capitol, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas.  DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations – terrain, building construction, etc. – or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.

The Illinois State Capitol DAS installation is part of AT&T’s Project Velocity IP (VIP), a multi-year plan to invest for growth, announced in 2012. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers’ growing desire for high-quality, fast wireless and wired services.  As part of Project VIP, AT&T is deploying small cell technology, macro cells and additional DAS, which will increase the density of our wireless network. The wireless network densification will further improve network quality and increase spectrum efficiency.

DAS technology helps improve the mobile Internet experience by shortening the distance a request must travel. The additional capacity also is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.

These investments help to ensure that Illinois residents continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go.  Our 4G LTE network is the most reliable in the nation.** And the great performance of AT&T’s 4G LTE network continues to be validated by independent third-party testing.

• Our 4G LTE service was recognized as having faster average download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in PCWorld/TechHive’s most recent 20-market speed tests – the second consecutive year that AT&T has ranked 1st overall.  PCWorld/TechHive also ranked AT&T’s as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20 cities it tested.***
  

Across Springfield and Illinois, AT&T’s 2013 investments have resulted in expansion and enhancement of our 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast speeds.  AT&T 4G LTE is now available in Springfield as well as Rockford, LaSalle-Peru, Kankakee-Bradley, Decatur, Bloomington-Normal and Pontiac.  Our 4G LTE deployment is ahead of schedule, covering nearly 280 million people. We expect to be substantially complete with our 4G LTE deployment by summer 2014.

AT&T’s focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T operates an extensive Wi-Fi network including more than 34,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 1 million 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.****

Over the past six years (2008-2013), AT&T invested more than $140 billion into its wireless and wireline networks, when you combine capital and spectrum acquisitions. Over the past six years, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a September 2013 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 Springfield, 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.

** Claim based on analysis of independent third party data re national carriers’ 4G LTE.   LTE is a trademark of ETSI.  4G LTE not available everywhere. 

*** PCWorld/TechHive, May 23, 2013, “AT&T clocks best overall speeds with 3G/4G combo”

**** 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 internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, 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 service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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