AT&T Plans To Add 30 New Cell Sites In Oklahoma

By TIM TALLEY

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — AT&T Inc. said it will add more than 30 new cell sites in Oklahoma this year and will launch its third-generation mobile broadband network in Ada, Ardmore, Enid and Muskogee.

Steve Gray, vice president and general manager for AT&T's mobility and consumer markets in Oklahoma and Arkansas, said Tuesday the expansion builds upon last year's investments in the state, including almost 20 new cell sites and the launch of its 3G network in Shawnee, Lawton and Bartlesville.

"We are constantly evaluating our network and its performance," Gray said. "We have enjoyed a great amount of growth over the past 20 years."

He said the size of the investment is attributable to the size of the telecommunication company's customer base in the state.

"We are determined to continue to keep our market. It's very, very competitive out there," Gray said.

Nationwide, AT&T said it will invest between $17 billion and $18 billion in 2009. The company declined to disclose the size of its investment in Oklahoma but said it invested more than $675 million in its Oklahoma network between 2006 and 2008.