AT&T expands broadband offerings in Traverse City

It’s the race of the communications services in Northwest Michigan lately, as AT&T is among several providers bulking up their offerings to consumers.

Improved broadband coverage and voice communications performance are among the upgrades AT&T most recently announced now available, as part of its initiative to extend wireless capacity and mobile broadband performance in the Traverse City area.

The new additions are called "carriers" by the communications folks, and are essentially new layers of frequency on existing cell sites in Traverse City, which will make more broadband available, and help cell routers manage the available airwaves more efficiently.

"Our goal is for our customers to have an extraordinary experience. As part of the Traverse City 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," says Jim Murray, president of AT&T Michigan.

That’s not even all--AT&T recently announced on the national scene that it will acquire T-Mobile USA, picking up that network’s infrastructure in Northwest Michigan and nationwide. Murray says that deal will make AT&T’s offerings of 4G mobile broadband available to more than 97 percent of the U.S., a pretty big jump up from the current 80 percent it’s available to. The company also has the nation’s largest wireless network.

"Smartphones, tablets and laptops are continuing to drive unprecedented demand for wireless access everywhere. We're investing in a combination of technologies right here in Traverse City to meet these needs and ensure an advanced broadband experience for all our customers," says Brian Ducharme, vice president and general manager for AT&T Michigan and Indiana.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jim Murray, AT&T Michigan