DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

AT&T Inc. (T) said it would deploy ultra-fast 4G network technology to 97% of the U.S. population, up from its initial estimate of 95%, through its proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA.

Last month, AT&T agreed to buy Deutsche Telekom AG's (DTEGY, DTE.XE) T-Mobile USA in a cash and stock deal worth $39 billion. If it survives regulatory scrutiny, the combination would vault the company over Verizon Wireless -- a joint venture of Vodafone Group PLC (VOD, VOD.LN) and Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) -- as the largest mobile carrier in the U.S.

AT&T said Thursday one of the benefits of the merger is the deployment of a 4G technology called Long Term Evolution, or LTE, to a larger percentage of U.S. residents than originally thought. It said this deployment dovetails with the Obama Administration's pledge to "connect every part of America to the digital age."

AT&T shares rose 1.9% to $30.70 in recent trading.