Associated Press - December 30, 2009 5:34 AM ET

MONROE, La. (AP) - AT&T's new 3G mobile broadband network in Northeast Louisiana was so popular that an overloaded phone system blocked cellular calls throughout the area.

Company spokeswoman Sue Sperry said the intermittent cell phone blockage is typical and very temporary.

Monroe is the last metropolitan area in Louisiana to get 3G, which lets iPhone and other 3G-enabled device users access the Internet at greater speeds and enhances video and audio quality. The second-to-last metro area to get the service, Alexandria-Pineville, had 3G turned on last month.

Verizon and Sprint have offered 3G in the Monroe area for about two years, but AT&T is the only service provider for iPhones.

AT&T had been scheduled to start the system earlier, but was slowed by persistent heavy rain.

Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com

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