New Cell Site Activated with 3G Technology in Montgomery County as Part of Ongoing AT&T Investment in Local Wireless Network
Clarksville, TN – As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of a new 3G cell site in Montgomery County, four miles west of Clarksville.
This new 3G site will enhance wireless coverage for area residents and businesses and will connect coverage all the way down to the Cumberland River. With mobile broadband speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactive mobile applications.
“Enhanced service like this will help build our economy and make Montgomery County residents more productive,” said State Sen. Tim Barnes. “I am pleased to see the growth of economic development and these types of investments here in Clarksville.”
In just the first six months of this year, AT&T invested nearly $200 million in its wireless and wireline networks to continue improving service for customers in Tennessee. Upgrades to the AT&T wireless network included new cell sites, expanded mobile broadband coverage and increased 3G capacity. The investment also included upgrades to the AT&T wireline infrastructure, such as expanded AT&T U-verse® services, additional AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, and extended reach of broadband services.
“Montgomery County has been in need of increased service in telecommunications, and I am glad to see these investments being made,” said State Rep. Joe Pitts. “Montgomery County residents will benefit from this new 3G site.”
The new cell site is one part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to extend the nation’s fastest mobile broadband wireless network according to expert, independent testing. AT&T has continued to drive investment and innovation to deliver the nation’s best, most advanced mobile broadband experience for customers.
“Our goal is pretty simple: We want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, or surf the Internet on your AT&T device,” said Jim Thorpe, vice president and general manager for AT&T mobility and consumer markets in Kentucky and Tennessee. “As part of the greater Clarksville community, we’re always looking for new opportunities to provide enhanced coverage, and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this.”
The new cell site is one of many ongoing network initiatives planned to enhance coverage and capacity across the country. AT&T recently upgraded 3G cell sites nationwide to High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2. Future plans include another upgrade to HSPA+ technology at the end of this year followed by the initial deployment next year of LTE, the next-generation of wireless technology. These advancements, when combined with an ongoing initiative to increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, are a part of AT&T’s strategy to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and in the future.
“We are fortunate to have leaders in the state legislature like State Senator Tim Barnes and Representative Joe Pitts who understand that our technology policy has contributed to a business environment that attracts investment and infrastructure upgrades,” said James Chavez, President and CEO, Clarksville Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 140 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in more than 125 countries.
“When we invest in smart wireless networks, we bring the innovation that’s needed to grow the economy and create jobs,” said Lanie Johnson, regional director, external affairs, AT&T Tennessee. “We commend the Tennessee General Assembly to create an environment that encourages ongoing investment across the state.”
AT&T also owns and operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 23,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 125,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our U.S. Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly data plans.
For more information about AT&T’s 3G coverage in Tennessee 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.
