AT&T plans to turndown (sunset) its TDMA & Analog networks starting February 18th, 2008**. (TDMA and analog share the same network in most cases.) Government regulations require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until this time. There is no regulatory requirement to maintain TDMA services, thus some TDMA-only markets were sunset early and the AT&T TDMA prepaid network was sunset on March 31, 2007.
Beginning February 18, 2008 and concluding February 20, 2008, AT&T is scheduled to cancel the remaining TDMA subscribers.
**Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008
CRITICAL, MUST KNOW/MUST DO: Must Know • All TDMA/Analog customers were notified of the cancellation date of February 18, 2008, BMG (IRU & CRU), Consumer, & Reseller. • Notifications were sent using Direct Mail, Outbound Telemarketing, SMS & Soundbite (broadcast message). • Subscriber lines should only be reinstated for 2 reasons: 1. Reinstatement may occur to facilitate an upgrade to GSM. 2. From February 20th to February 29th AT&T will allow TDMA lines to be reinstated for 72 hour blocks, to accommodate Port-Out requests. After 72 hours and/or after February 29th, the lines will be disconnected and may not be reinstated.
Q&A’s Why are you discontinuing service on your TDMA/analog network on February 18th, 2008? (Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008) TDMA and analog service are older forms of wireless technology, and the coverage, quality of service, devices and advanced features offered on GSM are superior to TDMA/Analog. From 2005 to 2007, AT&T invested nearly 16 billion dollars to enhance the quality and coverage of its GSM network. By early 2007, nearly 99.9% of AT&T's network traffic was over its GSM network. Customers have strongly responded to the advantages of AT&T’s GSM service, phones and rate plans. What is going to happen to the customer's TDMA/Analog service when the shutoff occurs on February 18th, 2008? Since 2006, we have been notifying affected customers of the impending shutoff. We expect the vast majority of customers will have migrated prior to the February 18 turndown. Any customer that has not upgraded to GSM by the turn down date will lose all service and the account will be terminated. What can customers do to avoid having service termination? We have been notifying customers for 18 months that AT&T plans to turn down the TDMA/analog network across the country. We have provided affected customers with information on what they can do to continue receiving service from AT&T, including signing up for pre-paid and post-paid GSM service plans. If a TDMA or analog customer still needs to upgrade to GSM after February 18th 2008, he or she can call Customer Services at 800-331-0500 or visit a Retail location. (Business customers should call 866-746-9957) However, existing phone numbers will only be available for a short time after the turn down. What about the features of current TDMA calling plans? GSM service offers most of the features of existing calling TDMA plans, as well as many features not available on TDMA or analog service. What happens to TDMA customers from other parts of the country that travel to one of these markets? TDMA service from AT&T will not be available in any market in the US. Isn’t AT&T legally bound to keep service up and running? Government rulings require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until February 18th, 2008. There is no such requirement for TDMA service. In limited cases, some TDMA networks were turned down in 2007; however, no analog networks were impacted. These impacted customers were notified in advance and offered incentives to upgrade to GSM service. What happens to TDMA/Amps subs that pay in advance for their service? All ‘bill in advance’ customers will be credited for monthly reoccurring charges on their February invoice. This credit will be a prorated amount from Feb.18th to the end of their bill cycle
What is going to happen to GAIT subscribers during the TDMA/Amps Sunset? There will be no impact to GGAIT subs. These subs now only use the GSM network. TGAIT subs will be treated just like any other TDMA sub. If they don’t migrate to GSM, they will be included in the cancel process.
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AT&T plans to turndown (sunset) its TDMA & Analog networks starting February 18th, 2008**. (TDMA and analog share the same network in most cases.) Government regulations require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until this time. There is no regulatory requirement to maintain TDMA services, thus some TDMA-only markets were sunset early and the AT&T TDMA prepaid network was sunset on March 31, 2007.
Beginning February 18, 2008 and concluding February 20, 2008, AT&T is scheduled to cancel the remaining TDMA subscribers.
**Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008
CRITICAL, MUST KNOW/MUST DO:
Must Know
• All TDMA/Analog customers were notified of the cancellation date of February 18, 2008, BMG (IRU & CRU), Consumer, & Reseller.
• Notifications were sent using Direct Mail, Outbound Telemarketing, SMS & Soundbite (broadcast message).
• Subscriber lines should only be reinstated for 2 reasons:
1. Reinstatement may occur to facilitate an upgrade to GSM.
2. From February 20th to February 29th AT&T will allow TDMA lines to be reinstated for 72 hour blocks, to accommodate Port-Out requests. After 72 hours and/or after February 29th, the lines will be disconnected and may not be reinstated.
Q&A’s
Why are you discontinuing service on your TDMA/analog network on February 18th, 2008? (Former Dobson markets will discontinue service on March 1st, 2008)
TDMA and analog service are older forms of wireless technology, and the coverage, quality of service, devices and advanced features offered on GSM are superior to TDMA/Analog. From 2005 to 2007, AT&T invested nearly 16 billion dollars to enhance the quality and coverage of its GSM network. By early 2007, nearly 99.9% of AT&T's network traffic was over its GSM network. Customers have strongly responded to the advantages of AT&T’s GSM service, phones and rate plans.
What is going to happen to the customer's TDMA/Analog service when the shutoff occurs on February 18th, 2008?
Since 2006, we have been notifying affected customers of the impending shutoff. We expect the vast majority of customers will have migrated prior to the February 18 turndown. Any customer that has not upgraded to GSM by the turn down date will lose all service and the account will be terminated.
What can customers do to avoid having service termination?
We have been notifying customers for 18 months that AT&T plans to turn down the TDMA/analog network across the country. We have provided affected customers with information on what they can do to continue receiving service from AT&T, including signing up for pre-paid and post-paid GSM service plans. If a TDMA or analog customer still needs to upgrade to GSM after February 18th 2008, he or she can call Customer Services at 800-331-0500 or visit a Retail location. (Business customers should call 866-746-9957) However, existing phone numbers will only be available for a short time after the turn down.
What about the features of current TDMA calling plans?
GSM service offers most of the features of existing calling TDMA plans, as well as many features not available on TDMA or analog service.
What happens to TDMA customers from other parts of the country that travel to one of these markets?
TDMA service from AT&T will not be available in any market in the US.
Isn’t AT&T legally bound to keep service up and running?
Government rulings require all wireless companies to keep their analog networks in service until February 18th, 2008. There is no such requirement for TDMA service. In limited cases, some TDMA networks were turned down in 2007; however, no analog networks were impacted. These impacted customers were notified in advance and offered incentives to upgrade to GSM service.
What happens to TDMA/Amps subs that pay in advance for their service?
All ‘bill in advance’ customers will be credited for monthly reoccurring charges on their February invoice. This credit will be a prorated amount from Feb.18th to the end of their bill cycle
What is going to happen to GAIT subscribers during the TDMA/Amps Sunset?
There will be no impact to GGAIT subs. These subs now only use the GSM network.
TGAIT subs will be treated just like any other TDMA sub. If they don’t migrate to GSM, they will be included in the cancel process.