AT&T has announced network improvement plans designed to enable higher data rate via HSPA+ with enhanced reliability to the Twin Cities and surrounding communities in 2011. The wireless network enhancement plans are part of AT&T's planned $19-billion investment in its U.S. wireless and wireline networks and other capital projects in 2011.

According to Bob Bass, president of AT&T Minnesota, AT&T will Deploy enhanced backhaul connections to more than 300 cell sites to enable 4G speeds and add capacity to support more mobile traffic, like adding traffic lanes to a highway. Additionaly it will install more than 10 new cell sites to improve network coverage and add spectrum carriers to 45 cell sites to support more traffic.

Backhaul connections carry traffic between cell sites and AT&T's nationwide network. Enhanced fiber-optic and Ethernet backhaul connections expand capacity many times over, and enable additional expansion in the years to come.

"Our recently announced agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA represents a great deal for customers and a major commitment to strengthen and expand our network. In fact, this deal, if approved, means that we'll be able to expand the next generation of mobile broadband – 4G LTE – from our current plan of 80 percent of the U.S. population to 95 percent," said Bass.

AT&T had invested more than $190 million in its Twin Cities wireless and wireline network from 2008 through 2010 as part of its commitment to superior service in the area.