Wireless Connectivity

AT&T Promises Faster 3G Network

AT&T has revealed plans to upgrade its 3G wireless network to boost mobile broadband speeds. The upgrades, which will start this year, are expected to be complete come 2011.

According to AT&T, it is upgrading the network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology. Currently, the carrier claims to have the "nation's fastest 3G network." The network upgrades could allow for peak speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, up from a maximum 3.6 Mbps currently, though real-world downlink and uplink speeds will be lower on the 3G network based on location, device and network traffic.

AT&T also plans to unveil multiple HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones beginning later this year.

Along with bulking up its 3G speeds, AT&T said it will also begin trialing 4G LTE network technology sometime next year, with deployment kicking off in 2011.

Though upgrading network speed is the focus of AT&T's 3G upgrades, the company said it is also enhancing its mobile broadband coverage by nearly doubling the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in most metropolitan areas. The goal is to deliver stronger in-building reception and more overall network capacity. AT&T is also adding roughly 2,100 new cell sites to support the higher broadband speeds offered by HSPA 7.2 and LTE.

"AT&T's network infrastructure gives us a tremendous advantage in that we're able to deliver upgrades in mobile broadband speed and performance with our existing technology platform," Ralph de la Vega, CEO and president of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, said in a statement. "With the array of smartphones, laptops and emerging devices taking advantage of AT&T's 3G network today, we know that customers are excited to experience higher mobile broadband speeds, and we are deploying the right technologies at the right times to help them get the most from that experience."

Currently, AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network spans nearly 350 major U.S. metropolitan areas. Twenty more metro areas are planned for 2009.

Posted by Andrew R Hickey

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