AT&T Improves 3G Coverage in Baltimore

Mobile phone-carrier AT&T announced on Friday that it had performed a series of network enhancements in the Baltimore area, including regions along the I-695 Beltway, such as Pikesville, Towson, and Parksville, and downtown spots like Fells Point and the Inner Harbor. Among the improvements, the carrier announced the deployment of new spectrum on the 850 MHz band, which is expected to offer AT&T customers a better indoor and outdoor coverage, as well as a better performance. At the same time, the wireless operator also announced enhancements of the network capacity, which are aimed at keeping up with the demand for the 3G mobile broadband service.

“Our goal is pretty simple: we want you to have an extraordinary experience when you make a call, check e-mail, download a song or video, or surf the Internet on your AT&T device,” J. Michael Schweder, AT&T Mid-Atlantic Region president, said. “It is what our customers want and our ongoing investments to enable customers to quickly access the content that matters most to them also helps to create jobs and fuel economic growth in Maryland.”

The newly added high-quality 850 MHz spectrum was usually expected to offer better indoor coverage, yet it should also offer an improved quality and coverage throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area, AT&T stated. According to the company, the improvements have been already spotted in all areas where the spectrum was deployed, and they resulted in an increase in network traffic. At the same time, the mobile-phone carrier also stated that it would continue to bring enhancements to its network, especially since it saw the highest level of data traffic on its network than any other US carrier.

“More than ever before, our customers look to wireless communications to stay in touch with family, friends, and business colleagues,” Rob Forsyth, vice president and general manager for AT&T in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia, said. “This investment, which builds upon our $500 million in capital expenditures in Maryland in from 2006 to 2008 , helps to enhance the 3G network and is just another way we are continuing to deliver a first-class wireless voice and data experience for Baltimore area customers.”