AT&T Announces 2006 Plans For Global Network Expansion
Continued global network investment means enhanced capabilities for multinational companies
BEDMINSTER, N.J., -/February 20, 2006 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- AT&T Inc. announced today details of its 2006 plans to expand its global network, providing enhanced connectivity in the United States and around the world in order to meet the growing demands of its multinational enterprise customers.
AT&T is extending services, reach and access into additional locations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America and in the United States, as part of the new AT&T's previously announced $8 billion to $8.5 billion expected capital investment in 2006. This investment demonstrates the company's commitment to its global enterprise customer base - especially those with significant operations in the United States, who are demanding a globally consistent set of services with high levels of accuracy, cost-efficiency and automation wherever they do business. Through targeted investment AT&T can now provide reliable network access to 97 percent of the world economy*.
Highlights of the 2006 planned expansion include:
. Extended dedicated MPLS-based IP access capabilities, giving service nodes in 127 countries,
. Integration of 1000 legacy SBC nodes into AT&T's global MPLS-based network,
. New network interconnections giving greater in-depth country coverage,
. Additional remote access points giving a total of more than 35,000 access points in 150 countries,
. Doubling DSL country coverage for business access, via alliance agreements with local carriers,
. Tripling Ethernet country connectivity,
. Enhanced satellite, Wi-Fi and wireless access.
"Customers are demanding a globally consistent set of services with high levels of reliability, cost-efficiency and automation. Through targeted investments AT&T can now provide dependable network access to 97 percent of the world economy," said Forrest Miller, group president of AT&T Communications Corp., "AT&T has deployed the infrastructure and network interconnections to extend country coverage and reach the markets where our customers need us today. Through these new investments, we are committed to enhancing our portfolio so that we have the reach and technologies to serve our customers in the markets where they are growing or establishing their business."
AT&T's relentless commitment to serving the needs of multinational companies around the globe has been recognized by both customers and analysts alike.
AT&T has been placed in the Leaders Quadrant for all global regions in Gartner, Inc's network service provider studies.1 According to Gartner to qualify for inclusion in the magic quadrant, leaders are evaluated on many criteria. Among the most important are long-term strategy, customer focus, quality of service, pricing and the ability to innovate.
"As a company that operates in over 275 locations across 50 countries globally we obviously need a network partner that provides us with connectivity wherever we do business. AT&T's continued investment in its global MPLS-based IP network enables us to "flatten" our engineering, manufacturing and distribution operations around the world and provide a foundation to accommodate the continued growth of Whirlpool's business." said Rick Perrotta, Director Global Network Engineering & Services for Whirlpool Corporation. "This gives us a uniform network solution enabling converged capabilities and real-time collaboration and increased productivity. Ultimately, we are able to reach our market places quicker with new product innovations, increase connectivity with our trade partners and consumers, and support our drive for increased customer loyalty."
* An analysis of our 127 country list vs the CIA World Factbook (11/2005 edition) list of global economies shows AT&T has MPLS services reach to more than 97.44 percent of the global economy.
About the Magic Quadrant
1. Magic Quadrant for Global Network Service Providers, 2005 by D. Neil, J. Delcroix, J. Pultz, N. Rickard (12/15/05); Magic Quadrant for Network Service Providers, Asia/Pacific, 2005 by C. To, K. Desai (1/16/06); Magic Quadrant for Pan-European NSPs, 2005: Leaders and Visionaries by N. Rickard, J. Delcroix (6/30/05) are copyrighted by Gartner, Inc. and are reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at http://www.TheNewATT.com.
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