New Distributed Antenna System Provides Additional Wireless Capacity for Customers
MADISON, WI., DECEMBER 11, 2011 – As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* today announced that it has expanded its mobile broadband coverage at West Towne Mall in Madison, Wisconsin by completing the installation of a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to serve customers throughout the facility.
A DAS installation consists of several strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout West Towne, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas. DAS has the ability to provide enhanced 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 additional capacity is expected to help improve call reliability and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.
“We want our customers to have a great network experience whatever they’re doing – whether that’s making a call, checking e-mail, downloading apps or surfing the Internet – while they shop,” said Dave Fine, AT&T’s vice president and general manager for the Wisconsin area. “We’re committed to our investment in the local wireless network, and providing enhanced wireless coverage at West Towne is just one way that we’re investing in the Madison area.”
“We are thrilled that West Towne customers will have access to enhanced wireless services while they are shopping, whether that’s catching up with a friend on the phone, or checking in on a social network. In today’s multi-tasking culture, customers expect to be able to enjoy a multi-dimensional experience, even at peak shopping times, and this new expansion by AT&T will help meet customers’ expectations,” said Carl Landis, Regional Marketing Director for CBL Associates & Properties, Inc. which owns West Towne Mall.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to invest in our network to provide an enhanced customer experience and this DAS system in West Towne is just one way we’re accomplishing that,” said Scott VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin. “In the first six months of 2011 alone, we invested over $100 million in our wireless and wireline networks here in Wisconsin.”
AT&T is an industry leader in delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.
AT&T’s mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 225 countries and data service in more than 200 countries.
AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 29,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to nearly 190,000 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.
For more information about AT&T’s mobile broadband coverage in Madison or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit an AT&T Coverage Viewer.
For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit our AT&T network news page.
