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AT&T upgrades cells sites, expands coverage in USVI

The capacity upgrades involved adding new layers of frequency to 28 cell sites across St. Thomas and St. Croix.

The capacity upgrades involved adding new layers of frequency to 28 cell sites across St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Wireless carrier AT&T announced Monday it has added extra capacity to 28 cell sites in St. Thomas and St. Croix; upgraded five sites in St. John, St. Thomas and St. Croix with LTE technology; and activated a new cell site in St. Thomas in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and coverage of its mobile Internet network available in the neighboring island chain.

As a result, customers in the USVI are expected to experience improved mobile Internet coverage and voice and data connectivity. The areas benefitting from the new St. Thomas cell site are Road 386, Anna Emerald Hill Road and Road 38, the company said.

The capacity upgrades involved adding new layers of frequency to 28 cell sites across St. Thomas and St. Croix. The additional capacity makes it possible for the cell sites to accommodate more traffic, which helps improve the performance of mobile Internet data and voice connectivity for customers.

The LTE upgrades to five cell sites are benefitting the areas of Little Princess in St. Croix; Sussanaberg and Bordeaux in St. John; and Wintberg and Crown Mountain in St. Thomas. LTE technology is the latest generation of wireless technology and is capable of delivering speeds faster than many other mobile Internet technologies. AT&T launched its 4G LTE network in the USVI in July 2013.

“As part of the USVI community, we’re always looking for new opportunities to provide an enhanced customer experience, and our investment in the local wireless network is just one way we’re accomplishing that,” said José Juan Dávila, vice president and general manager of AT&T’s USVI and Puerto Rico markets.  “We’re working to build a 4G network that’s smarter and better to provide our customers with a superior mobile Internet experience.”

The USVI upgrades are part of AT&T’s Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks. Through this investment, AT&T is supporting its customers’ growing desire for high-speed Internet access and new mobile, app and cloud-based services. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to add more macro cell sites nationwide by year-end 2015, as well as deploy more small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems to increase the density of its wireless network.

“Fast, reliable connectivity is essential to both quality of life and competitiveness at work,” said Ray Flores, regional vice president AT&T Puerto Rico & USVI. “No one understands that better than we do, and no one is doing more than AT&T to mobilize a world that works for people in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With programs like Project Velocity IP and other ongoing investments, we’re working to ensure that local consumers and businesses remain at the leading edge of broadband services.”

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This story was written by our staff based on a press release.
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