CNY Business Journal (1996+): Cingular upgrading network

SYRACUSE - After more than two decades in the upstate New York market, Cingular hasn't stopped building its network. The wireless company will spend more than $100 million this year on new towers, transmitters, software, and data capacity across New York, not counting the metro New York City region, says Martin Nee, director of public relations for Cingular Wireless in New York and New England. Cingular will spend $6 billion nationally on network improvements this year, he adds.

Cingular's latest cell improvements run from the Mohawk Valley up to the St. Lawrence River. In recent months, the firm has added new cell sites in St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oswego, Lewis, Oneida, and Madison counties, says Nee. The new sites have improved service in places such as Brasher Falls and Oswegatchie in St. Lawrence County as well as in other North Country towns including Harrisville and Croghan. The new sites are among 50 that Cingular will bring on-line this year across Upstate. More than 36 of those planned sites are already completed.

New cell sites take approximately one year to complete, says Nee. Much of that time is spent gaining regulatory approvals while the construction process takes about two months. In larger cities where several carriers need to cover the same area, providers cooperate in placement of their transmission equipment. Differences in networks don't always make co-location possible, says Nee.

"Depending on precise network engineering needs, however, it is not always an option," he explains.

The company recently upgraded its inbuilding coverage at the Oneida Nation's Turning Stone Resort and Casino. The enhanced service ensures full coverage throughout the resort's interior.

Adding capacity for data devices has been a driving force for improvements, Nee explains. The growth of BlackBerry and other hand-held data devices requires greater network capacity, especially inside buildings. The BlackBerry and other small computers combine telephone and data service allowing users to send and receive e-mail as well as store information. Many BlackBerry users rely on the data devices inside the offices as well as away from work, he adds.

Last year, Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless and has been integrating the two networks. The integration, says Nee, is a large project, but is made easier because both Cingular and AT&T used wireless technology known as GSM. GSM stands for the Global System for Mobile Communication, and is the world standard for wireless telephones.

Integration of the AT&T network involves conversion of billing and other network software as well as checks on network hardware. The changes don't require shutting down any broadcast capabilities, Nee explains, so customers won't notice any changes while using their phones. The network switchover will continue through next year.

Cingular's network improvements have reduced its use of portable cell sites. The company has mobile towers it can use to add capacity around temporary population centers such as summer concerts or car races at Watkins Glen International. This year, says Nee, Cingular has added enough capacity that the portable sites are awaiting deployment should disaster knock out a cell site. The "cell-on-wheels" would then fill the network gap.