Cellular South Expands 3G High-Speed Mobile Broadband Services to Meridian, Lauderdale County

Next Generation Wireless Network Gives Customers Faster Internet Connections, New High-Speed Data Services and Multimedia Applications

Cellular South network technician Tim Dillon checks electronics at a cell site powering 3G high-speed mobile broadband data service for the company’s consumer and business customers.

MERIDIAN, Miss. (May 28, 2009) – Cellular South, a leader in wireless solutions and innovation, today announced availability of its third-generation 3G high-speed mobile broadband services to consumers and business customers in the city of Meridian and other parts of Lauderdale County.

The Mississippi-based company is among the first wireless carriers to deploy the advanced high-speed technology in Meridian and other parts of Lauderdale County, including Marion, Nellieburg and Meridian Station. Customers in these areas now experience faster uploads and downloads when connecting to the Internet, and gain access to new mobile high-speed data services, including mobile video telephony, high-quality music and other multimedia applications, according to Tony Kent, chief technology officer for Cellular South.

From instant e-mail access to downloading music, Cellular South's 3G high-speed data services are changing the way businesses and residents in Meridian and Lauderdale County stay connected. "This updated network offers incredibly fast speeds and convenient broadband Internet access backed by one of the most trusted names in wireless today," Kent said.

Cellular South's 3G technology supports all of the advanced services consumers expect in mobile phones and other high-end 3G multimedia devices, such as mobile broadband connectivity, multimedia messaging, e-mail, music downloads, video streaming, internet radio and television, social networking and location-based services, he added.

Local elected officials and business leaders praised Cellular South for bringing the new mobile broadband technology to the region. Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith said that many businesses considering relocation or expansion examine the telecommunications infrastructure of communities. "High-speed wireless data and the services and applications it supports are becoming increasingly important to both residential and business users," he said.

Wade Jones, president of the 642-member East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, said Cellular South's investment in the region's telecommunications infrastructure will enhance the mobile broadband services offered to area residents and businesses. "More businesses are relying on high-speed wireless data for mission-critical and core business communications and applications," he said. "Expanding the region's high-speed wireless communications will benefit our workforce, existing business and industry and, most importantly, companies considering east Mississippi for a new location."

The upgrade, part of a more than $350 million investment since 2006 in equipment, services and software to advance Cellular South's wireless network, offers customers the latest in wireless voice and data technology, while continuing to expand its 3G network. This wireless broadband technology provides unmatched access, speed and reliability to even more Cellular South customers in Mississippi.

Kent said Cellular South is committed to helping customers get more out of their wireless devices through continued network investment. "In fact, we offer our customers 3G high-speed access on their mobile phones, smart phones and PDAs in four times as many markets as other carriers in our primary footprint," he said. "And with our nationwide network of networks, no one else has a larger 3G high-speed data network."

The company intends to continue to aggressively invest in its wireless network across the footprint to increase coverage and capacity, Kent said, noting that in addition to its best-in-class nationwide voice and data offerings, Cellular South continues to find new and innovative ways to make customers' wireless experience the best it can be. "We've always believed that even the most advanced wireless device is only as good as the network it runs on," he added.

For more information on Cellular South's network and 3G high-speed data service and how to get more out of your wireless service, log on to www.cellularsouth.com/DiscoverCenter.

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless devices and services. The nation's largest privately owned wireless communications provider accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and advanced 3G nationwide wireless voice and data network, offering industry-leading family and unlimited flat rate voice, text and mobile web plans, and through its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and convenient tools, tips, advice and information to get the most out of their mobile phone. For more information, visit www.cellularsouth.com.