LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock by completing the installation of a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance the customer experience in heavily trafficked areas of the campus.

A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T's wireless network coverage in the main hospital building, the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute building and the Hickingbotham Outpatient Center, 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.

"Having consistent wireless access for our patients and their families as well as our caregivers is extremely important," said Greg Crain, vice president and administrator of Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock. "More than 5,000 people are on this campus daily, which is larger than some towns in our state. Being able to communicate when you're away from home can help relieve a stressful situation. We deeply appreciate AT&T's investment in our campus and the help it provides patients and families when they are hospitalized."

The Baptist Health campus 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 its wireless network. The wireless network densification will further improve network quality and increase spectrum efficiency.

"We want our customers to have a great network experience wherever they are, no matter what they're doing - whether that's making a call, checking email, downloading apps or surfing the Internet," said Ed Drilling, AT&T Arkansas president. "With initiatives like Project VIP, we're continuing our investment in the wireless network, and providing enhanced wireless coverage at Baptist Health is just one way that we're investing in Arkansas."

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 Arkansas residents continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. AT&T's 4G LTE network is the most reliable in the nation.**

AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T owns and operates 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.***

Between 2008 and 2013, AT&T invested more than $140 billion into its wireless and wireline networks, when you combine capital investment and acquisitions of spectrum and wireless operations. Over the past six years, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a September 2014 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 Little Rock 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.

** Reliability claim based on analysis of independent third party data re nationwide carriers' 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.

*** 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) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We're helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation's strongest LTE signal and the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. We're improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse(®) TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T's mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 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.

Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers' LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

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SOURCE AT&T