NEW ORLEANS — AT&T invested more than $1.2 billion in its Louisiana wireless and wireline networks from 2010 through 2012, with a focus on expanding 4G LTE mobile Internet coverage and enhancing the overall performance of its networks.

AT&T made more than 1,200 wireless network upgrades in six key categories in Louisiana during 2012, including activating new cell sites, adding capacity, upgrading cell sites to provide 4G LTE mobile Internet speeds, deploying high-capacity ethernet connections to cell sites and adding or upgrading Distributed Antenna Systems, which boost wireless coverage and capacity in buildings and at major venues like convention halls or sports arenas.

“The strong business climate we have built in Louisiana is making a difference,” said Gov. Bobby Jindal. “Private investments like those announced show that our state continues to attract business and industry. These technology investments will help our state lead the way in innovation and will allow our residents and local businesses to compete in the global economy,” Jindal said.

“AT&T is betting big on Louisiana,” said Sonia Perez, president of AT&T Louisiana. “We know that a robust investment in wireless and wireline networks leads to economic development and job creation, and we are proud of the investments we make here in the state.”

Joe Larussa, AT&T vice president and general manager, Gulf States added: “We know our customers depend on us for fast, reliable mobile Internet connections at home, work and everywhere in between. Delivering for our Louisiana customers is a top priority and our ongoing investment here is designed to deliver a superior mobile Internet experience, encompassing speed, coverage and reliability.”

AT&T launched 4G LTE in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area in 2012. AT&T 4G LTE is the latest generation of wireless network technology and provides faster mobile Internet speeds and improved performance on a variety of mobile smartphones and tablets.

The AT&T 4G LTE network has been nationally recognized for its speed and coverage. AT&T 4G LTE delivered faster average download speeds than any of the competitors in PCWorld’s most recent 13-market speed tests. Telecommunications industry analyst firm Frost and Sullivan also awarded AT&T its North American Mobile Network Strategy Award for the second year in a row in 2012.

AT&T has further planned investment to expand reach of wireless and wired broadband.

AT&T recently launched Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment initiative to expand and enhance its wireless and wired IP broadband networks.

As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to increase the density of its wireless network by deploying more than 10,000 macro sites, more than 1,000 distributed antenna systems, and more than 40,000 small cells.

Through this initiative, they also plan to:

—Expand 4G LTE to cover more than 300 million people by year-end 2014.

—Expand the AT&T wired IP broadband network to cover approximately 75 percent of customer locations in our wired service area by year-end 2015.

—Expand the AT&T fiber network to reach 1 million additional business locations by year-end 2015.

For more information about AT&T’s coverage in Louisiana or anywhere in the U.S., consumers can visit the AT&T Coverage Viewer.

Using the online tool, AT&T customers can measure coverage quality of coverage from a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.