SEATTLE, Sept. 12, 2013 /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 CenturyLink Field by completing the installation of a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to enhance the customer experience throughout the facility.

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

A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T's wireless network coverage throughout CenturyLink Field, providing for more efficient management of cellular capacity in heavily-trafficked areas, such as sports venues.  DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent cellular 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 CenturyLink Field DAS installation is part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers' growing desire for 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.

"We would like to thank AT&T, our contracted service provider, for implementing a neutral hosted DAS with the opportunity for all willing carriers to participate," said Chip Suttles, Vice President of Technology. "Increased connectivity is in line with our objectives to enhance the fan experience for Seahawks and Sounders FC fans."

"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," said Bob Bass, Washington President, AT&T. "With initiatives like Project VIP, we're continuing to invest in the network, and providing enhanced cellular coverage at CenturyLink Field is just one way that we're investing in Washington."

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 Washington 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.****

In addition, RootMetrics® has awarded AT&T for strongest overall call, text, and data performance in 66 of 125 national markets from January through June of this year *****

Across Washington, 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 in the greater Seattle metropolitan area.

In the first half of 2013, AT&T invested nearly $250 million in its wireless and wired network in Washington.  The investment resulted in activation of 4G LTE in multiple cities and towns throughout Washington, including Aberdeen, Anacortes, Bellingham, Bremerton, Burley, Camano Island, Centralia, Ephrata, Everett Gig Harbor, Kent, Longview, Moses Lake, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Othello, Poulsbo, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Pullman, Shelton, Silverdale Spokane, Tacoma, the Tri-Cities area, Vancouver, Whidbey Island, Winslow and Yakima.  Nationwide, more than 225 million Americans have access to AT&T 4G LTE service. 

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 402,000 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 five years, AT&T invested nearly $98 billion into its wireless and wireline networks across the country. By year-end 2013, AT&T expects to cover nearly 270 million people and 400 markets with its 4G LTE network.  Since 2008, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a July 2012 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 Washington 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™ 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

***** Visit rootmetrics.com for more details. Performance rankings of four national wireless carriers rely on scores calculated from random samples. AT&T ranked highest or shared the highest ranking for overall performance in 66 of 125 markets tested, January-June 2013. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of AT&T.

****** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&TAT&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. 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.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @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.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking StatementsInformation 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.

SOURCE AT&T

RELATED LINKShttp://www.att.com