AT&T Wireless Services Inc. launched its nationwide EDGE network at this year’s Comdex technology show in Las Vegas. The carrier said the network would provide customers with average data speeds of between 100 and 130 kilobits per second.
The carrier noted the network technology is now available in areas served by its existing GSM/GPRS network, which AT&T Wireless said covers approximately 215 million potential customers across the United States, as well as in Puerto Rico and Bermuda. The carrier plans to deploy EDGE technology throughout its Caribbean properties in the near future.
Pricing for the high-speed data service will be similar to AT&T Wireless’ current GPRS pricing, including an unlimited access plan for $80 per month.
EDGE-enabled devices currently include the Nokia 6200 handset and a recently launched Sony Ericsson GC-82 modem card that is also compatible with the carrier’s GPRS network. AT&T Wireless said it expects to launch additional handsets early next year, including the Nokia 3200 model and Motorola Inc.’s T725 handset, and plans to unveil EDGE-enabled smart phones by the middle of next year.
Concurrent with the AT&T Wireless announcement Canadian operator Rogers Wireless Inc., which operates under the co-brand Rogers AT&T Wireless, said it has begun trials of EDGE technology in the Greater Vancouver area, and it expects to begin rolling out EDGE service across Canada next year.
During the EDGE technology announcement, AT&T Wireless also reaffirmed its full-year 2003 guidance, noting it expects annual service revenue growth to exceed 8 percent for the year and operating income before depreciation and amortization to grow in the low double digits to high teen percentages, depending on the amount of any restructuring charge it may take during the fourth quarter.
In addition, AT&T Wireless said it remains comfortable that it will generate operating free cash flow of more than $1 billion this year and that it expects to report total capital expenditures of around $3.1 billion for all of 2003.
In an unrelated matter, AT&T Wireless said it is making “good progress” in solving its current GSM/GPRS network software upgrade issues that have plagued the carrier since Nov. 1, and daily activations are at near-normal levels.
