- November 23, 2024
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Designed to look like a pine tree, AT&T’s new Palm Coast cell tower should enhance coverage near State Road 100.
Wireless provider AT&T has activated a new cell tower site in Palm Coast, which will enhance coverage near the Town Center, State Road 100 and Interstate 95. But locating it might prove harder than some residents expect.
The tower will be a “stealth” site, according to AT&T Director of Communications Gretchen Schultz, tucked in the woods near the Flagler County Airport and disguised to look like an extra-tall pine tree.
Network capabilities were also expanded in May, in Bunnell, with the addition of two sites, allowing for greater levels of voice and data traffic.
The new tower’s switch was flipped Aug. 13, Schultz said. “It is up, and it is running. All will now have 3G coverage in the area.”
The tower is one of 40 stealth towers in Northern Florida.
Additionally, AT&T has recently announced an agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA, which would expand its 4G LTE broadband service from 80% of the country’s population to 97%.
“Our goal is to expand our network,” Schultz said, “but then, where we have the network already, we add capacity to it … by adding carriers.”
Capacity additions are related to data traffic only, she explained. In four years, AT&T’s data network traffic has grown 8,000%. The company expects to multiply its current data traffic another eight to 10 times in the next five years.
A ribbon-cutting on the tower is planned for September.
For more, call call 1-800-331-0550; wireless callers can dial 611 from a wireless phone.
AT&T TARGETS RETAIL STORE
A new AT&T retail store is planned to open in early 2012, at the Target center on State Road 100.
The building will be on an outparcel between McDonald’s and Walgreens, according to Dale Menninger, of Weingarten Realty.
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, of Orlando, will design the building.
According to AT&T Director of Communications Gretchen Schultz, the facility will be 4,500 square feet.
— Brian McMillan
Contact Mike Cavaliere at [email protected].
