IP: ATT wireless announcement..what do you make of it??

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

<Picture: AT&T NEWS Release>
FOR RELEASE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997=20






AT&T's breakthrough wireless technology new alternative for local service=20


WASHINGTON -- AT&T today announced the invention of a revolutionary fixed
wireless technology to carry high-speed digital communications directly to
most households across the country at many times the capacity of
traditional copper wire.=20


This technology breakthrough will give AT&T an important new option for
competing to provide local service over its own facilities.=20


During the past two years, AT&T has acquired through FCC auctions the
licenses for the 10 MHz radio spectrum it needs to provide the new
technology to customers in more than 93 percent of the United States.=20


In remarks before the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners here, AT&T President John Walter said, "We are announcing the
creation of what we believe will be the communications medium for the 21st
century.=20


"This is the first major technology breakthrough for the new AT&T,
continuing the company's heritage of innovation and positioning AT&T as the
communications leader for the next century."=20


Developed jointly by AT&T Wireless Services and AT&T Labs, the new
technology is a fixed wireless system that can provide consumers
high-quality, secure wireless communications to and from their homes at
speeds many times faster than existing telephone lines. The fixed wireless
system will initially provide each household with two phone lines and the
capability for high-speed Internet access at 128 kilobits per second. The
technology includes sophisticated encryption capability to protect
consumers' privacy and prevent fraud.=20


Consumers will be able to use their existing touch-tone wired telephones
and keep their current phone numbers. The new technology will give
consumers the ability to use their wireless phones as extensions in their
homes at local service rates. They also can use the same wireless phones
for mobile service in areas served by AT&T's wireless network, paying
mobility rates.=20


The new system will connect a consumer's home to an AT&T digital switching
center via a neighborhood antenna mounted on a utility pole or other
structure. A single antenna will serve up to 2,000 homes. The only new
equipment required on the customer's house is a transceiver about the size
of a pizza box that can be mounted on the side or back of a house.=20


Engineers at AT&T Wireless Services began developing the new system in
1994; the company will begin a beta test in metropolitan Chicago later this
year. AT&T Wireless Services is already manufacturing components for the
system at its facilities in Redmond, Wash.=20


For the new fixed wireless system, the company said it has filed patents
for techniques that greatly increase the capacity of a small slice of the
wireless radio spectrum (10MHz) and make use of radio frequencies multiple
times in the same area. The techniques optimize fixed wireless service and
concentrate it for transport over high-capacity fiber optic lines. The new
fixed wireless technology is compatible with all of AT&T's existing
wireline and wireless networks.=20


"We are combining the high speeds, large capacities and top voice quality
that people have come to expect from fiber optics, but we're doing it over
radio waves," explained the system's lead developer Nick Kauser, who is
chief technology officer at AT&T Wireless Services and vice president of
AT&T Labs. "In effect, we've created a wireless fiber optic system --
something no one else has done."=20


Future uses of the new system may include faster data services and
full-motion videoconferencing.=20
<Picture: How it works>






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This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, which are
based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions concerning future
events. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and
are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from such statements. For more information, please see
AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as result of new information, future events or=
 otherwise.=20


Editor's Notes: AT&T President John R. Walter will hold an audio news
briefing at 12:45 p.m. EST today. Reporters in the United States wanting to
join the teleconference can call 1-800-553-0318 or 612-332-0430 from
outside the U.S. Beginning at 3 p.m. EST today, a rebroadcast of the audio
news briefing will be repeated for 48 hours at 1-800-475-6701 in the U.S.
or 320-365-3844 from outside the U.S., access code 332623.=20


Charts to accompany this story were moved on AP PhotoExpress as WPD1&2 for
2/25/97 and can also be retrieved in digital form by media without charge
from Wieck Photo DataBase at 972-392-0888.=20


B-roll will be available for your use of the satellite as follows:=20


=9511:45 a.m. EST -- Galaxy 6, Transponder 11, C-Band =95Repeat feed at 2:00
p.m. EST -- Galaxy 6, Transponder 11, C-Band <</ul>=20


Cover footage will have split audio tracks. Track one has voice notes;
track two has natsound. For further broadcast information, contact Jeff
Roberts, AT&T, at 212-387-6289, or Don Madsen, AT&T Wireless Services, at
206-803-1243.=20








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For more information, reporters may contact:=20


Todd Wolfenbarger - AT&T Wireless Services=20
206-828-1851=20
206-979-2677 (cellular)=20
todd.wolfenbarger () attws com=20


Ruthlyn Newell - AT&T=20
908-221-2737=20
ruthlyn () attmail com=20


Ken Woo - AT&T Wireless Services=20
206-828-1349 (office)=20
206-972-1728 (cellular)=20
kenneth.woo () attws com=20




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For information about AT&T's wireless offerings, customers should visit the
AT&T Wireless Services website.=20