Cingular is moving ahead with its plans to offer wireless high-speed Internet access to consumers.

Cingular Wireless hopes to begin launching its first high-speed mobile services in 2005.



The wireless service provider on Tuesday issued a call to telecommunications equipment companies to develop various pieces that would be used in its UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network. It has already signed up Lucent Technologies to provide equipment that currently supports data speeds of up to 2 megabits per second (mbps). The gear ultimately could support speeds of up to 14.4mbps.



The technology for Cingular’s third-generation, or 3G, network is meant to help the company offer high-speed Internet access, wireless audio and video, full-motion video and advanced multiplayer games to both businesses and consumers.



Cingular plans to begin testing the system in Atlanta this summer.



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