AT&T INVESTS MORE THAN $120 MILLION IN ITS WIRELESS AND WIRELINE NETWORKS OVER THREE-YEAR-PERIOD TO ENHANCE LOCAL NETWORK IN CHARLESTON AREA

AT&T* has invested more than $120 million in its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in Charleston between 2012 through 2014, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance reliability, coverage, speed and performance for residents and business customers.

As part of its Project Velocity IP (VIP), an investment plan focused on network enhancement and expansion, AT&T in 2014 made 36 wireless network upgrades in the Charleston area, including 18 new cell sites and 18 new wireless high-speed Internet connections. Additionally, AT&T expanded the reach of its network, providing access to AT&T U-verse® High Speed Internet, AT&T U-verse video and AT&T U-verse voice services to 12,000 new customer locations.

“With a growing range of connected home appliances, cars and wearable devices, we depend more on network connectivity than ever before,” said Jack Mitchell, Regional Director of External Affairs, AT&T. “AT&T’s continued investment in Charleston brings a host of new, innovative opportunities for residents and businesses to connect with each other and their customers.”

Notable Charleston network enhancements in 2014 also included the launch of HD Voice and the launch of Digital Life, a home security and automation service. Digital Life is now available in Charleston, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Isle of Palms, Johns Island, Ladson, Moncks Corner, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Sullivan’s Island, and Summerville.

AT&T provides the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network today, covering more than 300 million Americans with 4G LTE service.** AT&T’s network also has the nation’s strongest LTE signal.***

AT&T* was recently recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the Most Admired Telecommunications Company in the world in 2015. Additionally, FORTUNE ranked AT&T #47 among all companies in all industries in its list of the Top 50 Most Admired companies in the world. FORTUNE’s Most Admired Companies lists are among the most highly respected indicators of corporate performance and reputation.

AT&T U-verse is delivered over AT&T’s advanced IP network and includes AT&T U-verse High Speed Internet, AT&T U-verse TV, and AT&T U-verse Voice.**** AT&T U-verse TV customers enjoy Total Home DVR®, apps for entertainment on the go, and integrated features. AT&T recently received three Women’s Choice Awards® as “America’s Most Recommended Brand Among Women for Broadband, Television and Phone Service Provider.” Frost & Sullivan recognized AT&T for its leadership in high-speed Internet services with the 2015 North American Competitive Strategy and Innovation Leadership of the Year Award for Broadband, AT&T U-verse TV with the 2015 North American Company of the Year for Multichannel Video for its growth, innovation, and leadership, and the 2015 North American Company of the Year for Consumer Communication Services.

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 1 million Hot Spots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers and U-verse 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.*****

If the AT&T-DirecTV merger is approved by regulators, the combined companies will have an opportunity to redefine the video entertainment industry by delivering content to consumers across multiple screens – mobile devices, TVs, laptops, the backseat displays of connected cars, and even airplanes. AT&T has also committed to expand and enhance its deployment of both wireline and fixed wireless high-speed Internet to cover at least 15 million customer locations across 48 states – most of them in underserved rural areas.

For more information about AT&T’s coverage in Charleston 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.