COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- When the Blue Jackets take the ice at Nationwide Arena, hockey fans can expect to enjoy an enhanced mobile experience as they pull out their wireless device to share the most exciting moments with friends and family.

As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced wireless devices and services, AT&T* has tapped into the Distributed Antenna System (DAS), engineered, owned and operated by Mobilitie, the nation's leading provider of wireless network infrastructure, to enhance wireless coverage and increase data connectivity for an optimal fan experience throughout the facility.

The installation consists of a neutral-host DAS infrastructure designed by Mobilitie, with multiple strategically-placed AT&T antennas that distribute wireless coverage throughout Nationwide Arena providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas. DAS has the ability to provide enhanced, consistent wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations - terrain, building construction, etc. - or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience.

The collaboration with Mobilitie at Nationwide Arena is just one part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP (VIP), a multi-year plan to invest for growth, announced in 2012. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers' growing desire for high-quality, fast wireless and wired services. As part of Project VIP, AT&T is deploying small cell technology, macro cells and additional DAS installations in collaboration with companies like Mobilitie, which will increase the density of the company's wireless network. The wireless network densification will further improve network quality and increase spectrum efficiency.

"When our customers head out to the arena to cheer on the Blue Jackets, we want them to have a great network experience throughout the game no matter what they're doing - whether that's making a call, checking email, downloading apps or surfing the Internet," said Adam Grzybicki, president of AT&T Ohio. "With initiatives like Project VIP, we're continuing to invest in our wireless network, and providing enhanced wireless coverage at Nationwide Arena is just one way we're investing in Columbus."

"Fans aren't just watching the game anymore - they're increasingly relying on their mobile devices to text, access their social channels and watch videos," said Christos Karmis, president of Mobilitie. "The lack of a great network connection can often make or break the fan experience. That's why we're working with carriers like AT&T who recognize the importance of mobile connectivity for sports fans of today and tomorrow."

DAS technology helps improve the mobile Internet experience by shortening the distance a request must travel. The additional capacity also is expected to help improve call reliability, boost data traffic capacity and enable more consistent network access to help customers make the most of their AT&T devices.

These investments help to ensure that Ohioans continue to enjoy the best possible experience over the AT&T network, whether at home, at work or on the go. AT&T's 4G LTE network is the most reliable in the nation.**

Across Columbus and Ohio, AT&T's 2014 investments have resulted in expansion and enhancement of the company's 4G LTE network, which provides ultra-fast speeds.

AT&T's focus to deliver the best possible mobile Internet experience goes beyond 4G to embrace additional connection technologies. AT&T owns and operates more than 34,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 1 million hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly wireless data plans.***

AT&T invested more than $250 million in its Columbus area wireless and wireline networks from 2011 through 2013. Over the past six years (2008 to 2013), AT&T invested more than $140 billion into its wireless and wireline networks, when you combine capital investment and acquisitions of spectrum and wireless operations. Over the past six years, AT&T has invested more capital into the U.S. economy than any other public company. In a September 2013 report, the Progressive Policy Institute ranked AT&T No. 1 on its list of U.S. "Investment Heroes."

For more information about AT&T's coverage in Columbus or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer. For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit the AT&T network news page.

* AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Claim based on analysis of independent third party data re national carriers' 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.

*** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We're helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation's strongest LTE signal and the nation's most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage. We're improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with AT&T U-verse(®) TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with AT&T's mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Reliability and signal strength claims based on nationwide carriers' LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. LTE signal strength. LTE not available everywhere. Global coverage claim based on offering voice and data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.

About Mobilitie

Mobilitie is the nation's leading provider of wireless networks, helping people stay connected wherever they are. Mobilitie funds, deploys, and operates indoor and outdoor neutral host DAS networks, Small Cell networks, Wi-Fi networks, communication tower sites, and other infrastructure used by wireless carriers to enable high speed mobile communication. Mobilitie engineers wireless solutions at the most complex venues across all major industries, including sports and entertainment, real estate, hospitality, education, healthcare, government, and transportation. The highest mobile data traffic ever recorded during an event was carried on a Mobilitie DAS network. Mobilitie is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. To learn more about our wireless solutions please visit us at www.mobilitie.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.