Cingular to accelerate delivery of advanced wireless service

[Barry]

Cingular Wireless has issued a comprehensive request for proposal to telecommunications equipment vendors to develop and deliver the infrastructure for operating UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network technology. Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is based on GSM/GPRS/EDGE technology that supports data rates up to 384 Kbps.

Cingular is also planning to deploy an enhanced version of UMTS called High Speed downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), which will further increase network
capacity and offer speeds with peak data rates up to 14.4Mbps. This 3G
technology will allow Cingular to deliver enhanced services for business
customers, including high-speed Internet access and wireless audio/video,
along with a host of consumer services such as high-resolution digital
images, full-motion video, and advanced multi-player gaming.

Cingular envisions numerous economic benefits to be gained by moving
forward decisively with UMTS technology. Specifically, UMTS will:

. Give customers more choices and make for a more competitive environment
for wireless broadband services
. Provide new opportunities for wireless developers to bring new
applications to market more quickly
. Produce new high-skilled jobs and give vendors incentives to create
these jobs in America.

A key advantage in deploying UMTS is the technology's compatibility with
Cingular and AT&T Wireless' existing GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Earlier this
year, Cingular agreed to acquire AT&T Wireless. The deal is awaiting
approvals from the FCC and Department of Justice. Once the companies are integrated, Cingular will operate the largest American high-speed data
network.

The combined Cingular/AT&T Wireless network will also make it possible to roll out high-speed data services for the first time in many parts of rural America. Cingular, which pioneered the development of GSM at both 850 and 1900 MHz, intends to make the high-speed network available to not only its regional and rural roaming partners but also facilitate the ability for regional and rural
carriers to deploy UMTS services on their networks as well.

In addition to broad domestic coverage, Cingular customers will also have
one of the largest international roaming options for both voice and data,
since UMTS is the natural evolution to 3G for GSM. Cingular will be conducting UMTS trials in Atlanta this summer and could be hitting the market early 2005.

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