Cellular South, a leader in wireless solutions and innovation, announced it has further improved its network capabilities in Laurel and Jones County to deliver top-notch service for Cellular South customers. The wireless provider has invested more than $10 million over the past two years to provide significant wireless service and network coverage upgrades for its customers in the region.

As part of the company’s commitment to providing the best wireless service, Cellular South has extended its high-speed 3G wireless voice and data network in the region. The $1.5 million improvements allow customers to download applications, music and media at faster speeds.

The Mississippi-based company is the first wireless carrier to deploy the advanced high-speed technology in Laurel and other parts of Jones County. Customers now experience faster uploads and downloads when connecting to the Internet, and new mobile high-speed data services, including mobile video telephony, high-quality music and other multimedia applications, according to Tony Kent, senior vice president of Engineering and Operations for Cellular South.

“From instant e-mail access, to downloading music, Cellular South’s 3G network changes the way Laurel and Jones County businesses and residents stay connected,” Kent said. “This updated network offers incredibly fast speeds and convenient broadband Internet access backed by one of the most trusted names in wireless service.”

“Cellular South is constantly working to expand and upgrade our network to provide our customers with superior wireless service,” Kent said. “This commitment will increase capacity for voice and data usage, strengthen our coverage and improve our customers’ overall wireless experience.”

In addition to expanding its 3G high-speed network in the area, Cellular South has installed a new $6 million network switching facility in Hattiesburg, providing a higher level of network capacity in the Southeast Mississippi and Gulf Coast regions.

The close proximity of the facility will decrease the distance that wireless signals need to travel, and the increased capacity will allow the system to handle network activity more efficiently, allowing Cellular South to deliver calls, text messages and data more quickly.

Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack said Cellular South should be commended for its investment in the region.

"Wireless service is a fundamental necessity for personal and public safety, tourism, economic growth and long-term telecommunications infrastructure development. We are very pleased and excited that Cellular South has invested in our community and region by making service even more dependable and providing access to advanced high-speed data applications," Mack said.

Mitch Stennett, president of the 344-member Jones County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority, said Cellular South’s investment in the region’s telecommunications infrastructure will reap long-term dividends for area businesses.

“More businesses are relying on high-speed wireless data for mission-critical and core business communications and applications,” he said.“To have the latest high-speed wireless communications is a tremendous asset for our region as we compete with other areas to attract new business and industry.”

The Hattiesburg facility was built to withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy winds of up to 200 miles per hour. The building has two roofs for additional protection against tornado activity, as well as triple power back-up – including both built-in battery back-up and a heavy-duty generator providing reserve power – to ensure that the network stays up and running during inclement weather and emergencies.

Additionally, the new facility will be monitored around the clock from the Cellular South Network Operations Control Center, ensuring reliable service and immediate troubleshooting capabilities.

“We recognize the importance of a strong network and high levels of redundancy to provide increased wireless security, especially during hurricane season and other natural disasters,” Kent said. “Our customers depend on their cell phones and a reliable network to communicate with loved ones during and after a storm. We are determined to live up to the trust our customers have placed in us and continue to be the network they can count on in any situation.”

To provide additional protection for the Cellular South network in the event of natural disasters, including hurricanes or tornadoes, the wireless provider also has installed a $3 million permanent microwave ring along the Mississippi Gulf Coast for redundancy and wireless security. The microwave ring circles through Hattiesburg and allows Cellular South to deliver calls more effectively in areas that experience land-line disruptions during times of disaster.