AT&T Expands 4G LTE Network to Mahoning Valley
BOARDMAN, Ohio -- When Adam Grzybicki, president of AT&T Ohio, cites the 30,000% increase in data traffic on his company’s network since 2007, he’s referring not only to exponential growth over the last six years, he’s also forecasting exponential growth over the next six years.
“The way we’re projecting our network, we don’t see it trending downward at all. What we’ve seen over the last six years we expect will continue,” Grzybicki said Wednesday.
Grzybicki stopped at AT&T’s store at 650 Boardman-Canfield Road for a press event to announce the company has turned on its 4G LTE network in the Mahoning Valley, “the latest and greatest in terms of technology,” he said.
The upgrade is one phase of the $1.5 billion AT&T has invested in Ohio during the last three years to expand its wire and wireless capacity. “This is part of our build-out of infrastructure to make sure we are creating capacity for the next six years,” Grzybicki said.
Similar rollouts – and press events – will bring 4G LTE to nearly all of Ohio’s markets by the end of 2014. “These are pockets and each week we are announcing new markets,” he said.
LTE technology offers lower latency, or the processing time it takes to move data through a network, such as how long it takes to start downloading a webpage or a file. Lower latency also helps to increase the speed of services such as mobile gaming, two-way video calling and telemedicine, AT&T said in its announcement.
In addition to faster speeds, LTE uses spectrum more efficiently than other technologies, creating more space to carry data traffic and services. AT&T cites tests by PCWorld and PC Magazine to make the claim that its 4G LTE network is the nation’s fastest and most reliable.
One of AT&T competitors, Verizon, makes similar claims about its 4G LTE network, which is available in 23 markets across Ohio.
AT&T’s Grzybicki could not estimate his company’s market share in the Mahoning Valley. “Where we are in terms of our total investment in Ohio is unparalleled,” he said, “and we’re really proud of it.”
Also on hand for the press event were state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-33, state Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-59, the Regional Chamber’s Tom Presby and Steve Kristan, AT&T Ohio director of external affairs.
Schiavoni noted the bureaucratic hurdles AT&T had to clear to make its $1.5 billion investment in Ohio. “It’s very tricky stuff, regulatory reforms,” he said in congratulating AT&T.
“This is huge for business in the Mahoning Valley,” Schiavoni pointed out
So, too, did Kristan. “This is going to enable businesses to more effectively communicate with their customers,” he said. “A lot more business is being done with pictures and video. It’s amazing how many companies are now including video in their business communications.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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