AT&T Wireless Uses Roaming to Expand GSM Coverage

AT&T Wireless and its affiliate Edge Wireless, have announced a roaming agreement setting the stage for delivery of GSM/GPRS service to AT&T Wireless customers in portions of Oregon, Northern California, Idaho and Wyoming. The agreement also provides Edge Wireless' customers access to AT&T Wireless' national GSM/GPRS network.

Edge has begun construction of its GSM/GPRS network, and AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS customers will be able to roam seamlessly on the network as it comes on line. Once Edge Wireless commercially launches GSM/GPRS service, Edge GSM/GPRS customers will have immediate access to AT&T Wireless' national network, covering a U.S. population of about 188 million people and on track to cover 214 million people by year-end.

"We're opening new frontiers in GSM service," said Wayne Perry, chairman and CEO of Edge Wireless. "As our network comes on line, customers of both companies will enjoy next generation roaming capabilities and advanced data services over new territory covering 960,000 people and almost 600 miles of Interstate in the Pacific Northwest."

"GSM continues to cement its position as the technology of choice for next generation networks," said Robert Stokes, Senior Vice President - Business Development, AT&T Wireless. "Our roaming agreement with Edge Wireless will further advance us toward our goal of bringing next generation technology to our customers across as widespread an area as possible.

The AT&T Wireless/Edge announcement comes on the heels of the formation of a joint venture signed March 13 between AT&T Wireless and Cingular to build out GSM/GPRS service on more than 4,000 miles of rural highways through the U.S. The AT&T Wireless/Edge agreement will add another 600 miles to the 4,000 target miles of highways along which AT&T Wireless customers -- and now Edge customers -- will have GSM/GPRS coverage."

Posted to the site on 16th April 2003