GAINESVILLE, Fla., Nov. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When a big play happens at the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, AT&T customers can expect to enjoy an enhanced mobile experience as they pull out their wireless device to share the most exciting moments with friends and family.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/DA23287LOGO)

As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* is expanding its mobile Internet coverage at the stadium and in the surrounding area with a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and two new 4G LTE cell sites. The DAS should enhance the customer experience inside the stadium, while the new cell sites are expanding coverage along University Avenue and 34(th) Street and Gainesville's Campus Lodge.

These enhancements are part of a larger network build out on the University of Florida campus. AT&T also has completed the first phase of its DAS installation at UF Health/Shands Teaching Hospital. The second phase of the build is expected to be completed in 2014. Plans also are in place to connect students throughout the campus by putting an outdoor DAS (oDAS) on-air in 2014.

A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T's wireless network coverage throughout the stadium, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas, such as football stadiums. 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.

The new LTE cell sites and DAS, are part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment plan to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers' growing desire for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud-based services. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to add more than 1,000 DAS nationwide by year-end 2015, as well as more than 10,000 macro cell sites, and deploy more than 40,000 small cells, to increase the density of its wireless network.

"When our customers head out to the stadium to cheer on the home team, we want them to have a great network experience throughout the game no matter what they're doing - whether that's making a call, checking email, downloading apps or surfing the Internet," said AT&T Florida President Marshall Criser, lll. "With initiatives like Project VIP, we're continuing to invest in the wireless network, and providing enhanced wireless coverage at the University of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and elsewhere on campus are just a couple ways that we're investing in Gainesville."

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 Florida residents continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. The great performance of AT&T's 4G LTE network continues to be validated:


    --  AT&T has the fastest and now most reliable 4G LTE network.** According
        to independent third-party data, AT&T has the highest success rate for
        delivering mobile content across nationwide 4G LTE networks.
    --  Meanwhile, our 4G LTE service was recognized as having faster average
        download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in
        PCWorld/TechHive's most recent 20-market speed tests - the second
        consecutive year that AT&T has ranked 1st overall. PCWorld/TechHive also
        ranked AT&T's as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20
        cities it tested.***
    --  And AT&T was named America's fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine's
        2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study - sweeping the top rankings
        in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast,
        North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.****

Across Gainesville and Florida AT&T's 2013 investments have resulted in expansion and enhancement of our 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast speeds. AT&T 4G LTE is now available in Gainesville as well as Ocala, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Orlando, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Melbourne-Titusville, Daytona Beach, Pensacola. Nationwide, nearly 250 million Americans have access to AT&T 4G LTE service. By year-end 2013, AT&T expects to cover nearly 270 million people with its 4G LTE network.

AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network***** including more than 32,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 461,000 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.

Over the past six years (2007-2012), AT&T invested more than $116 billion into its wireless and wireline networks across the country. Since 2007, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a September 2013 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 Gainesville 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.

** Speed claim based on comparison of national carriers' average 4G LTE download speeds for Android(TM) and Windows smartphones and iPhone 5. Reliability claim compares data transfer completion rates on nationwide 4G LTE networks. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G speeds not available everywhere.

*** PCWorld/TechHive, May 23, 2013, "AT&T clocks best overall speeds with 3G/4G combo"

**** PC Magazine, June 17, 2013; http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420333,00.asp

***** 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) 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 fastest and most reliable 4G LTE 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 service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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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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