AT&T Expands 4G LTE Coverage Across Michigan

DETROIT -- AT&T last week announced a variety of upgrades to its high-speed 4G LTE network across Michigan.

First, AT&T said it upgraded three mobile Internet cell sites in Ann Arbor, Beverly Hills and Birmingham to expand AT&T 4G LTE coverage for area residents and businesses.

AT&T also announced an upgrade of a mobile Internet cell site in Lambertville, improving coverage in Monroe County.

In West Michigan, AT&T said it upgraded four other mobile Internet cell sites throughout Grand Rapids.

And AT&T also announced it had improved its mobile Internet coverage at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center by completing the installation of a new 4G LTE-capable Distributed Antenna System.

A DAS installation consists of multiple strategically placed antennas that distribute AT&T's wireless network coverage throughout the Marriott, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily trafficked areas including guest rooms, the hotel lobby, ballrooms, guest circulation areas, meeting rooms, executive offices, fitness club, and more.

The additional capacity is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access so customers make the most of their AT&T devices.

AT&T launched its ultra-fast 4G LTE network in Detroit in September 2012.

AT&T claims the nation's largest 4G network, covering more than 285 million people with ultra-fast speeds and a more consistent user experience. AT&T has also deployed two compatible 4G technologies to deliver more speed to more customers, which means AT&T customers can get 4G speeds outside of 4G LTE areas on 4G HSPA+, unlike competitors, where smartphone customers fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage.

AT&T also says its network's radio components are placed close to the antenna at most cell sites, instead of inside the base station, which helps minimize power loss between the base station and antenna and, in turn, improves the performance of our 4G LTE network. The network also is designed with its core elements distributed across the country, which helps reduce latency, or the delay when using the Internet, because data requests aren't traveling as far.

Over the past five years, AT&T invested more than $115 billion into operations and into acquiring spectrum and other assets that have enhanced our wireless and wired networks. Since 2007, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company.