AT&T Wireless & Cingular Wireless Complete Joint Venture To Provide Coverage Along US Highways.
February 17, 2003
AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless announced that they have officially formed the joint venture to build out GSM/GPRS (Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Service) service targeting more than 4,000 miles of rural highways in the continental United States.
The companies also announced that they amended the agreement to include building GSM/GPRS networks along major highways in Vermont and New Hampshire as well as highways in Upstate New York, in addition to the targeted highways in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
“Our joint venture is a win for AT&T Wireless and for our customers,” said John Zeglis, chairman and CEO of AT&T Wireless. “Our customers will have next generation network coverage in more markets in less time. And we can make it happen at a much lower capital expense.”
“This joint venture further expands the reach of the world’s most popular wireless technology, bringing better coverage for both our customers and those of the greater GSM community at large,” said Stan Sigman, President and CEO of Cingular Wireless.
Operations are expected to commence in the first quarter of this year with various sections of highway network being completed in 2003 and 2004.
