AT&T Wireless launched commercial UMTS wireless service in Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle. The networks, which operate at the 1900 MHz radio frequency using Nortel Networks’ radio access equipment, will provide AT&T Wireless customers with average data speeds from 220 to 320 kbps — and up to 384 kbps under optimal conditions. AT&T Wireless is also deploying UMTS technology in Dallas and San Diego, and expects to offer service in these markets before the end of this year.
The new networks will use AT&T Wireless’ existing converged core — supplied by Nortel Networks — to add UMTS to existing GSM, GPRS and EDGE capabilities.
Lucent Technologies and Novatel Wireless are supplying their Merlin U520 Wireless PC Card Modems. Nokia and Motorola are supplying mobile handsets for the rollout. http://www.attwireless.com
- In February 2004, the board of directors of AT&T Wireless selected Cingular Wireless as the winning bidder to acquire the company for $41 billion in cash. The combination of Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless would create the largest GSM/GPRS network in the U.S. with spectrum in 49 states. Cingular currently has 24 million customers and AT&T Wireless has 22 million subscribers. Cingular operates 21,800 cell sites (of which 94% have GSM coverage as of Q4 2003) and AT&T Wireless has 25,300 cell sites. Annual revenues of the combined company would exceed $32 billion.