By Garrett Martin
A Utah Valley woman said she almost died earlier this year because her Cingular cell phone didn't have service.
Ashley Hoppes, an elementary school teacher in American Fork, was involved in a rafting accident in Moab and subsequently stranded in the desert when she attempted to call for help. She couldn't find any place with cellular service, but eventually found a highway and hitchhiked to safety.
Instances such as these should be nearly eliminated by the end of the year for Cingular customers, as the wireless giant plans to extend and update coverage throughout Utah.
The cellular company announced last week it will spend $130 million to construct 90 new cellular sites in the state, providing superior coverage in areas such as Utah Valley, Moab, Ogden, Saint George and Lake Powell.
'I'll definitely feel a lot safer in Moab after the coverage expansion,' Hoppes said. 'You never know what's going to happen in Moab.'
The Utah project is part of a larger nationwide plan to invest $6 billion into the Cingular network, including 3,500 new cellular sites by the end of the year.
'This size investment shows Cingular's commitment to be the best provider in Utah,' said Mike Binks, a territory manager for Spring Communications, an authorized Cingular dealer. 'I think Cingular already has the best coverage of any carrier in Utah.'
Hoppes said she's had several problems with Cingular coverage while recreating in popular outdoor spots, however.
Company director of sales Dewey Garner said two new cellular sites in the Moab area came on air last weekend, which should solve the coverage problems in that particular region.
'We're really excited about our new coverage in Saint George too,' Garner said. 'Cingular is now providing coverage in the greater Saint George area for the first time.'
Garner said he plans to see an increase in new customers as a result of the additional coverage, but 'the bottom line is providing the best service for our current customers.'
This is good news, especially for Cingular clients in Utah County. Director of public relations Ann Marshall said more than 20 percent of the $130 million improvement budget will be spent in Utah Valley.
Part of that money will be used to extend Cingular's high-speed data network, giving customers in Provo and surrounding areas the option to have wireless Internet access via laptop computers.
'This should be especially beneficial to college students in the area,' Garner said.
Andrew Glassett, drummer for the Salt Lake City band Uzi and Ari, has been a Cingular customer for the last two years and says coverage isn't the only thing to consider when choosing a cell phone.
'I've never really had a problem with coverage,' Glassett said. 'But my contract is up in August and I think I'll find a new carrier because Cingular is just too expensive for me.'
-New Cingular cell towers expected by year's end-
Location New Total
Salt Lake County 24 31
Utah County 13 19
Northern Utah 9 17
Moab/St. George 9 14