ATT takes lead in upgrades for DNC mobile service

One cell phone company is working to make sure all calls go through for delegates and the media at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer.

And most of those benefits will remain in place after the delegates in town July 25 through July 28 go home.

ATT has been beefing up coverage at the Wells Fargo Center for the DNC with about 500 upgrades, said Michael Schweder, president of AT&T Mid-Atlantic.

“That simply means greatly increasing the speed people will be able to use on their wireless devices,” he said. “We’re going to double the LTE facilities and capabilities within the Wells Fargo Center itself. And, in downtown Philadelphia, we’re going to have  small cell solutions in all of the hotels where the delegates will be residing during the convention and at other sites throughout the city.”

The Rev. Leah Daughtry,  CEO of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, said this is one clear way Philadelphians will benefit even after the event ends.

“ATT is not just investing in a week in July, they are putting in permanent network upgrades to increase capacity for the phones tablets and other devices that Philadelphians use to get through the day,” she said.

The company installed $23 million in improvements for last year’s papal visit.