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AT&T Surpasses Major Indiana Investment Milestone; Announces Plan to Add More Than 35 New Cell Sites in '09

INDIANAPOLIS, March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lt. Gov. Skillman joined state legislators and local business leaders today as AT&T* announced that since the Telecom and Video Reform Act (HEA 1279) was signed into law in 2006, through 2008, AT&T's total capital investment has exceeded $1 billion acrossIndiana. As part of its ongoing expansion, AT&T also unveiled plans to add more than 35 new cell sites throughoutIndiana in 2009.

"When technology companies invest to bring new and enhanced connectivity to Hoosiers, they create important opportunities for commerce, education and quality of life," said Lt. Gov. Skillman. "We applaud AT&T and all of the other providers around the state that have responded favorably to the reform legislation that we championed. And we look forward to their ongoing investment inIndiana."

The investment in its 3G wireless broadband network - the nation's fastest, according to recent data compiled by leading independent wireless research firms - is part of AT&T's ongoing effort to build the broadband networks that will create jobs and fuel economic growth, and enable the company's customers to access the content, applications and services that matter most to them.

As part of its 2009 investment, AT&T plans to add new cell sites in areas including:Anderson,Bloomington,Carmel,Evansville,Fishers,Fort Wayne,Indianapolis,Lafayette,Muncie,Noblesville,Sheridan,South Bend,Terre Haute and more. AT&T will also introduce 3G service inAnderson,Bloomington,Columbus andMuncie, and expand its 3G footprint inAllen,Hamilton,Johnson andSt. Joseph counties. New sites will also expand coverage in several otherIndiana counties including:Clark,Floyd,Lake,LaPorte,Porter,Spencer andVanderburgh.

"I applaud companies who invest to better the quality of life for Hoosiers.Indiana continues to have one of the best pro-market environments in the nation for investment by the telecommunications industry.Indiana deregulated the telecommunications industry and is now the leader and envy of other states," said U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer, a senior member of the House Telecommunications & Internet Subcommittee. "A majority ofIndiana is rural and still continues to battle the challenges with wireless signals. Investment in this infrastructure by AT&T will help provide an environment to allow Hoosier families to better use technology and help businesses grow and expand."

"The Telecom and Video Reform Act continues to makeIndiana an attractive place for providers to invest in new technology," said George S. Fleetwood, president, AT&T Indiana. "We applaud all of the policymakers who supported these reforms. Their collective vision has helped create jobs, expand technology and deliver real benefits to Hoosier consumers."

From 2006 to 2008, AT&T's capital investment inIndiana totaled more than $1 billion. During that time, AT&T expanded facilities to bring high-speed Internet access to every central office it operates inIndiana. AT&T also deployed its AT&T U-verse(SM) services, including U-verse TV, U-verse High Speed Internet and U-verse Voice, in parts of several communities includingAnderson,Bloomington,Columbus,Indianapolis,Muncie,Kokomo,South Bend and areas acrossLake County.

In addition, during that time, more than 90 new cell sites were activated and more than 20 sites were upgraded with technology to improve in-building coverage and enhance voice quality and data speeds. Also, 3G network builds were completed in several areas including:Auburn,Bristol,Boonville,Brownsburg,Carmel,Clarksville,Danville,Elkhart,Evansville,Fishers,Fort Wayne,Granger,Goshen,Greenwood,Georgetown,Huntertown,Indianapolis,Lafayette,Lake County,Lebanon,Mishawaka,Mooresville,Mount Vernon,New Albany,New Haven,Noblesville,Osceola,Plainfield,Porter County,Princeton,Sellersburg,South Bend,Westfield,West Lafayette and more.

AT&T's 3G network delivers LaptopConnect users typical downlink speeds ranging between 700 kilobits per second (Kbps) and 1.7 megabits per second (Mbps), and faster uplink speeds ranging between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps. The network opens the door to a new era of advanced mobile services, devices and feature-rich audio and video content, such as AT&T Video Share(SM), a first-of-its-kind technology that allows users to share live video during a wireless call.

"A top priority in 2009 is to continue to enhance the wireless network so our customers have a top notch experience every time they make a call, check an e-mail or surf the Internet on their AT&T device," said Brian Ducharme, vice president and general manager for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets inIndiana. "We continue to make significant investments to deliver dependable, high speed wireless access in more places acrossIndiana for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected to work, family and friends."

AT&T's wireless network is based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technologies, the most open and widely used wireless network platform in the world. As a result, only AT&T can offer 3G data roaming in more than 70 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 200 countries, in addition to AT&T's continuous 3G expansion in the U.S. AT&T's 3G network is now available in nearly 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas.

AT&T operates more than 35 AT&T-owned retail locations inIndiana. AT&T's products and services are also available at a number of other authorized dealers and national retail locations.

For more information about AT&T's wireless coverage inIndiana or anywhere inthe United States, consumers can go to http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

*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.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services inthe United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation's fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of their three-screen integration strategy, AT&T operating companies are expanding their TV entertainment offerings. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE(R) magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.