AT&T* today announced the launch of an AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone in Austin, Texas, to provide Wi-Fi coverage for Austinites and visitors along the city’s popular Sixth Street — home to frequented shops, entertainment, events and restaurants.
The new hotzone provides fast and reliable Wi-Fi from the 100 block to the 600 block of Sixth Street between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35. AT&T customers with qualifying wireless data, LaptopConnect and AT&T High Speed Internet plans get unlimited access to AT&T hotzones at no additional cost.
Austin is the fifth major market to benefit from an AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone, joining hotzones launched in 2010 and recently expanded in New York City at Times Square and near Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and along Park Avenue; San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center; downtown Charlotte, N.C.; and Chicago’s Wrigleyville. Hotzones enhance the broadband experience for AT&T customers who use Wi-Fi enabled devices, providing another way to stay connected and adding data network capacity in high traffic areas. AT&T is the only major mobile operator using Wi-Fi in this way.
AT&T recently deployed extra Wi-Fi hotspots for major local events around Austin, including SXSW, Statesman Capitol 10 Race, Urban Music Festival and Austin Reggae Fest, and saw great demand. AT&T customers made over 120,000 connections at AT&T’s temporary Wi-Fi hotspots since March, demonstrating the need for a permanent hotzone at one of Austin’s busiest areas.
“As consumers use an increasing amount of data and more Wi-Fi enabled devices, our Wi-Fi hotzones are another investment we’re making to deliver the best possible broadband experience to AT&T customers,” said Angie Wiskocil, senior vice president, AT&T Wi-Fi Services. “We’ve seen high usage and positive feedback at our other AT&T Wi-Fi hotzones, and we’re excited to bring one to Austin — the hometown of AT&T Wi-Fi Services —in an area where customers need speed and coverage the most.”
AT&T’s focus is delivering the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience, which includes delivering the benefits of mobile broadband networks, devices and applications. With the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T provides accelerated mobile data speeds and simultaneous voice and data capabilities for an amazing wireless voice and data experience.
Many of the most popular AT&T smartphones can automatically connect at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots, making it easy for customers to find and use AT&T Wi-Fi. Customers can use AT&T Wi-Fi hotzones and more than 24,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide without it counting toward their monthly smartphone data usage. AT&T plans to deploy additional hotzones in other urban areas across the country where we’re consistently seeing high data use.
AT&T’s Wi-Fi network complements its wired and mobile broadband networks, offering Wi-Fi connectivity at popular locations like retail stores, restaurants and coffee shops from coast-to-coast. For more information on AT&T Wi-Fi and how to connect, visit www.att.com/wifiaccess.
