CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T1 announced today it is planning to expand the availability of ultra-fast speeds through AT&T GigaPowerSM to homes, apartments and small businesses in parts of 38 additional metros across the United States, which will total at least 56 metros served, including in the Charleston area.2

With the launch of our ultra-fast Internet service in parts of 2 of these metros today – Los Angeles and West Palm Beach – AT&T GigaPower is now available in 20 of the nation's largest metro areas.

Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second over the AT&T GigaPower network let you instantly access the latest online movies, music, games and more.3 AT&T GigaPower can also improve your experience when connecting to the cloud and videoconferencing, and gives you the speed to power all of your devices.

"We're proud to announce plans to bring this advanced, ultra-high-speed technology to South Carolina and look forward to launching in the Charleston area," said Pamela Lackey, president of AT&T South Carolina. "The AT&T GigaPower network will help encourage economic development in the Lowcountry by facilitating a new wave of innovation through enhanced opportunities for education, health, research and small business growth. This reflects the ongoing efforts by South Carolina's state and local leaders to build and maintain a public policy environment that encourages private investment in advanced technology."

"When we talk about making South Carolina's environment for business development competitive, we're talking about things like offering the companies we're recruiting, and those already growing in our state, the latest and most innovative technology infrastructure," said Gov. Nikki Haley. "That's why AT&T's announcement that it plans to deploy gigabit speed Internet service across South Carolina is terrific news for our employers, employees, students and families."

"It's exciting that the Charleston area will be joining a select group of cities around the country served by an all-fiber network and super-fast Internet," said Elliott Summey, Chairman of the Charleston County Council. "While we are proud of our history and Southern charm, we are also proud to be a modern, forward-looking city connected to international commerce and committed to encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. It is a very positive sign for the future that this new network and services will be available throughout the region."

"Advanced technology, such as AT&T is delivering, is essential for the innovations which will drive future economic growth and opportunity," said Anita Zucker, Chair of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board and CEO of The InterTech Group. "I look forward to seeing how residents and small businesses will utilize the AT&T GigaPower network to help us continue to grow and to move forward."

Nearly 2 years ago, we successfully launched the first AT&T GigaPower metro in Austin, Texas. This launch led to a major expansion in multiple metros beginning in 2014. We recently marked a major milestone deploying the AT&T GigaPower network to more than 1 million locations, and we expect to more than double availability by the end of 2016.

We'll continue to roll out our fastest Internet services over a 100% fiber network to reach more than 14 million residential and commercial locations.

AT&T GigaPower gives customers some of the fastest online speeds available anywhere. You can download 25 songs in less than a second, a TV show in three seconds or your favorite HD movie in less than 36 seconds.4

AT&T GigaPower customers also have access to the latest Wi-Fi technology, making it possible to enjoy our best in-home Wi-Fi experience. You get faster Wi-Fi speeds, expanded coverage and support for all your devices.

With DIRECTV now a part of the AT&T family, customers on the AT&T GigaPower network in the Charleston area will be able to choose between our award-winning DIRECTV or U-verse TV services.

When you sign up for qualified DIRECTV programming, you get immediate access to a broad range of TV content on your compatible mobile device through our DIRECTV application, even before we install your TV service, through our "Walk out Watching" program.5

In the home DIRECTV customers with qualified programming have access to more than 315 channels, more than 200 in full-time HD, and the most comprehensive selection of sports programming. You can watch the programming you love, live or On Demand and experience it on almost any screen. DIRECTV On Demand offers access to more than 10,000 movies and shows to high-speed Internet customers with connected set-top boxes, including the hottest new Pay Per View releases.

Customers on the AT&T GigaPower network in markets eligible for AT&T U-verse TV service can watch and record up to 6 HD programs at the same time, and will be able to record and store more of your favorite shows – up to 900 hours of SD or 330 hours of HD programming.

We're continuing to work with local leaders within the 21 state service area who are interested in expanding the availability of the 100% fiber-optic AT&T GigaPower network to consumers and small businesses.

Frost & Sullivan recently recognized AT&T for its leadership in high-speed Internet services. It awarded AT&T the 2015 North American Competitive Strategy and Innovation Leadership of the Year Award for Broadband. The analyst firm praised AT&T for its "aggressive pursuit of higher bandwidth access" for customers through its AT&T GigaPower network initiative.

AT&T has served South Carolina for more than 136 years and currently employs more than 2,400 people in the state. AT&T invested more than $875 million in South Carolina's wireline and wireless networks from 2012 through 2014 to provide South Carolina consumers, schools and businesses a complete package of Internet, TV and voice services wrapped in an industry-leading customer experience.

For more information on where the AT&T GigaPower network is and will become available, visit att.com/gigapowermap.

1 AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

2 Initial availability limited to select areas. May not be available in your area.

3 Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability speeds. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary based on factors including site traffic, content provider server capacity, internal network management factors, customer device capabilities and use of other U-verse services. Max speeds may not be realized if 2 or more HD shows viewed at same time. For more info, go to www.att.com/speed101.

4 Speed/time estimates are examples.

5 Limit 5 shows/devices at once. Channels vary. Access expires at earliest of 14 days/system installation. Data rates may apply. Add'l restr's apply.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. We're the world's largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. In the U.S., our wireless network has the nation's strongest 4G LTE signal and most reliable 4G LTE. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider*. And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Signal strength and reliability claims based on nationwide carriers' 4G LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. 4G LTE signal strength. 4G LTE not available everywhere.

*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming; and world-capable smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.

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