Crown Castle Deploys Distributed Antenna System At CONSOL Energy Center

HOUSTON, March 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE:CCI) today announced that one of its subsidiaries has deployed a neutral host distributed antenna system ("DAS") to facilitate wireless communications services within CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The system currently facilitates wireless coverage for AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless and has capacity for three additional operators. "The Pittsburgh Penguins are pleased that Crown Castle will assist carriers in providing enhanced mobile phone and data coverage at CONSOL Energy Center for our fans," said Travis Williams, Senior Vice President of the hockey team.

An indoor distributed antenna system is a network of antennas connected by fiber to a communications hub designed to facilitate wireless communications services. The CONSOL Energy Center DAS network provides wireless coverage for fans and staff throughout the entire arena. "Fans and concertgoers are keen to share their event experience with friends and family. For CONSOL Energy Center, the premier sports and entertainment destination in the Pittsburgh area, the installation of a distributed antenna system enhances the fans' experience. Fans can now fully utilize their mobile phones for texting, calling and sending pictures to friends and family at the event and across the country before, during and after the arena games and concerts," stated Pat Slowey, Crown Castle's Senior Vice President of Sales and Customer Relations.

CONSOL Energy Center can seat up to 20,000 and expects to host 150 events per year, including Pittsburgh Penguins home games, Division 1 NCAA Basketball games and concerts, including recent sold out performances by such artists as Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga and The Eagles. In addition, Sports Business Journal voted CONSOL Energy Center the "Best NHL Arena" in 2010 and POLLSTAR named the arena the nation's "Best New Major Concert Venue for 2010." The arena is also scheduled to be the site of the first and second rounds of the 2012 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four.