OREANDA-NEWS. May 24, 2012. As thousands of race fans converge on Indianapolis for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend motorsports race, AT&T* is boosting network capacity to improve its customers’ wireless experience.

The company has deployed a cell on wheels (COW), enhanced cell sites, and expanded AT&T 4G LTE coverage in preparation for the anticipated wireless network demands from high concentrations of smartphone users at the race. The augmentations will help improve reliability and data speeds as the event runs through May 27.

“Events at the race track generate memorable experiences that our customers will want to share with friends and family through text messages, photos, status updates on social networks and calls from their mobile devices,” said Brian Ducharme, vice president and general manager, AT&T Indiana and Michigan. “We’ll have a team of network engineers monitoring the network to help ensure the best experience possible at the fan-packed venue.”

The permanent and temporary enhancements are part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to prepare for and provide the best possible mobile experience during special events like the upcoming world-famous race. With crowds expected to reach tens of thousands of attendees, AT&T’s network team has enhanced cell sites to help meet the anticipated demand for mobile Internet service. In addition to deploying a cell site on wheels (COW), AT&T has expanded its 4G LTE coverage to four additional cell sites serving the area, and added capacity to 12 existing cell sites and micro-cell sites.

AT&T launched its ultra-fast 4G LTE network in Indianapolis in November 2011, providing mobile Internet speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.

AT&T’s mobile data 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 broadest 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 offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 135 major cruise ships, as well as mobile Internet services in more than 130 countries.

AT&T also operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with nearly 30,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to nearly 225,000 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.


*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.


**Largest based on company branded and operated hotspots. Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.