Industry's Largest, Most Advanced Disaster Response Organization Enables Coordinated Approach to Wireless, Wired Networks in Times of Crisis

November 20, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced the completion of a yearlong initiative to consolidate its industry-leading Network Disaster Recovery (NDR) capabilities. As a result, the company can now bring unmatched resources to bear to help ensure the flow of both wireless and wired communications during times of need, all backed by centralized command and control to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency.

The integration project expands the scope of AT&T's NDR functions beyond the core backbone network to also encompass response to emergency situations that impact local wireless and wired access networks. AT&T has invested more than $500 million in its NDR function, which includes more than 150 technology and equipment trailers that can be quickly deployed anywhere in the U.S. or worldwide to respond to a disaster situation.

The consolidated NDR organization played a key role in restoring and maintaining wireless and wired communications following hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September, with NDR units deployed to support local network technicians and enable communications in and around damaged cell sites. Additionally, the NDR team was deployed for several weeks to support continued voice and data communications in and around Galveston Island, Texas, which was devastated by Hurricane Ike. All told, AT&T invested $145 million in recovery and restoration efforts related to the 2008 hurricanes.

"In any disaster situation, our mission is to ensure that all communications — wireless and wired — are maintained or restored as soon as possible," said Kevin Peters, executive vice president of AT&T's Global Network Operations. "Our integrated approach to disaster recovery enables us to most effectively deploy the full resources of AT&T to address virtually any emergency situation and any of the services we provide.

"With AT&T's scope and unmatched investment in recovery capabilities, we have the resources and expertise in place to recover from disaster situations more quickly and efficiently than ever before. To best serve our customers and the communities we live in, we are fully committed to continuing to lead the industry with our NDR capabilities."

The AT&T NDR organization is a key part of AT&T's comprehensive disaster response and preparation capabilities, which are called into action several times each year to facilitate recovery from emergency situations, ranging from floods and hurricanes to tornados and wildfires. The NDR team and its equipment are deployed by the AT&T Global Network Operations Center, the state-of-the-art command center that monitors AT&T's global network 24 hours a day, when severe situations exceed the capability of the network's normal maintenance processes. Once in the field, the NDR team works with local AT&T network personnel and Emergency Operations Centers to restore and maintain service until permanent repairs can be implemented.

The integrated NDR team also includes a single National Security Emergency Preparedness management team, which works directly with federal, state and local government agencies to prepare disaster response strategies and coordinate recovery efforts.

In addition to consolidating wireless, wired and backbone network recovery capabilities, AT&T made critical investments in NDR equipment and training in 2008, including the:

• Successful completion of the 50th full-scale NDR training exercise since the organization's inception in 1991.
• Expansion of the NDR fleet with new trailers expanding Internet Protocol technology, satellite communications functionality, power distribution and specialized equipment supporting AT&T's new-generation, 40 gigabit-per-second backbone network.
• Refit of multiple power trailers to improve performance as well as environmental profile.
• Opening of a third NDR equipment warehouse in the southeastern United States.
• Addition of an equipment warehouse in the United Kingdom.

The company will continue to add to the NDR capability in 2009 and beyond as network and customer needs dictate. Additionally, AT&T will continue to pursue opportunities to integrate and streamline processes among the NDR organization and local network personnel, helping ensure a highly efficient, centrally managed disaster response process from global to local levels.

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