DALLAS, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The AT&T* 4G LTE network has been ranked fastest for a second consecutive year by PCWorld/TechHive. The tests in 20 U.S. markets show AT&T wireless customers are benefiting from blazing-fast wireless Internet speeds.

AT&T also outpaced the competition last year in PCWorld/TechHive's 2012 wireless Internet speed tests, having delivered faster download speeds than any other national carrier in 13 cities tested. Speed is the name of the game for mobile Internet service, as customers are taking advantage of smartphones and apps to help manage their busy lives. In this year's PCWorld/TechHive report, AT&T led the speed tests with an average download speed of 13.15 mbps and an average upload speed of 6.45 mbps.

"With consumer demand for wireless data continuing to grow rapidly, it's more important than ever that U.S. wireless carriers not only keep pace with demand, but deliver network speeds fast enough to enable new mobile web experiences," said Jason Snell, Editorial Director, PCWorld/TechHive.

The AT&T 4G LTE network has also been recognized for speed and performance by other third-party testing firms. AT&T 4G LTE is available in 228 markets and covers more than 200 million people. Improving the wireless network continues to be a priority for AT&T.

"Our customers are doing more with their smartphones," said Kris Rinne, AT&T senior vice president-network technologies. "We're giving them the ability to do it faster when they read email, send photos, check the news and much more. We've built the nation's fastest 4G LTE network to help them get the most out of the mobile Internet. Third-party testing validates the work we've done to give our customers the speed they want."**

AT&T has built the nation's largest 4G network, and its customers are able to enjoy widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G speeds on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas on AT&T 4G HSPA+. With some competitors, smartphone customers may fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage.

Over the past five years, AT&T invested nearly $98 billion into operations, more than any other public company in the U.S.

*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.

**Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Claim based on a comparison of U.S. national carriers' average 4G LTE download speeds for Android(TM) and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. 4G speeds not available everywhere. Learn more at att.com/network.

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 largest 4G 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 services under the AT&T U-verse(®) and AT&T ?DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.