AT&T speeding up smartphones at Heinz Field

PITTSBURGH — AT&T and the Pittsburgh Steelers have added equipment to Heinz Field that will let the company's smartphone users get better service.

The equipment, known as a Distributed Antenna System, is meant to prevent slowdowns that AT&T customers can receive when thousands of fans use their phones at games to make calls, and send emails text messages or photos.

AT&T's upgrades come a month after the company began offering 4G service in the Pittsburgh market. Verizon Wireless has been offering the high-speed data service since December 2010.

AT&T spokeswoman Brandy Bell-Trusky says, "We know there are a lot of folks who come to the game every week and want to text and tweet because it's part of the fan experience now."

She says those fans will now have a "faster experience."

WPXI