AT&T claims to be the fastest U.S. 3G network provider

You need a 3G phone like the AT&T Tilt or the Apple iPhone 3G to take advantage of a 3G network.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

So the iPhone 3G is coming out tomorrow. Are you ready? OK, that's more of a rhetorical question that those who've been lining up in front of Apple and AT&T stores in NYC and San Francisco would call me crazy just for asking. (Though, in fact, it's they who are crazy). The real question is if AT&T is ready. And it looks like it is.

It's only fitting that AT&T announced today that it offers the nation's fastest 3G network, by a significant margin. The claim was made based on a variety of tests conducted by leading third-party researchers, who tested the throughput speed and overall performance by downloading and using multiple applications and files at a time.

The company also announced that it has started doubling the capacity of its 3G markets and that by the end of the year, about half of all its cell sites will receive additional 3G capacity. This will bring the total 3G coverage area to 350 major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas, up from 296 currently. In addition, AT&T also has the largest global coverage, with roaming available in more than 200 countries, with 60 of them being 3G roaming.

Those impressive announcements above are the direct result of the investment AT&T made in network improvements and upgrades between 2005 and 2008 that totaled up to $20 billion. Much of this network investment has gone to building out the 3G broadband data network and deploying additional 3G coverage using the 850 MHz spectrum, which is now available due to the recent sunset of its older TDMA network. This spectrum extends farther and better covers the interior of buildings.

The biggest benefit of the 3G network is, of course, the high-speed data connection; however, it also allows for simultaneous voice and data activities. For example, you can instant message and talk to the same person at the same time with your 3G phone. Now that's really crazy.

[sahilk]

Fastest 3g?
yeahh if you can find the coverage somewhere.. lol
Verizon's 3g coverage smokes AT&T any day

[mooch1219]

shows what you know Verizon is not 3g, it uses cdma. dummy

[sahilk]

yeah its 3G CDMA. -1 for you -_-

[fs1011]

fastest 3G! ha ha ha.... ok, now that you got that, get me some clear calls without dropping every 2 minutes (I am in a major city)!
GO ATT! keep on bring new features while you cannot handle voice.

[mooch1219]

verizon don't use 3G. They work off of CDMA.

[doublstuff]

3G means the 3rd generation of cell phone networks. All the major carriers use 3G networks except for TMobile at this point, and supposedly they are going to roll out their 3G network sometime in the near future.

But you're right, Verizon uses CDMA technology and ATT uses GSM bsaed technology

[mattq07]

The widespread EVDO network that verizon has is technically 3G... ATT uses a UMTS 3G network and their coverage is pretty limited as of now...

[sahilk]

thats why it says QualComm 3G CDMA on the back of my phone. lol @ the ppl that post comments here

[ejeon1989]

they use EV-DO, which is considered a 3G network. It's just as fast (if not faster) than ATT 3G network. Plus, I think coverage for EV-DO is a bit more widespread.

[verizonsucks]

MOOCH1219 you don't have a clue about wireless technology!

Verizon and Sprint were the first carriers to deploy "3G" in the US. ATT was next but speed were slow, but supposedly they are the fastest. And T-Mobile is now deploying 3G.

[techyguy]

acually mooch is semi correct 3g is just the term for 3rd generation cell tecnology but verizon does use the cdma network and att uses gsm

[techmonkey]

Its easy to claim "fastest 3G" when no one else but a few testers are using the network. It no undoubtedly will get bogged down once subscribers get on board.

If ATT had any brains about themselves, they would run the test when consumers/subscribers are actually USING the network.

Let's wait till then and then we will see who has the fastest 3G network....my guess is once ATT subscribers are on the network, ATT wont have the fastest 3G anymore

[ejeon1989]

Why would they test the network when more people are using it? That would mean that they would have to tell the TRUTH!

[UKStory1355]

Verizon has their EV-DO basically everywhere, even in little hick towns like Possum Trot, KY and that AT&T barely has major cities covered. I think that HSDPA is a better technology than EV-DO in the long run, but it will be obsolete by the time most of the country has access to it.

[gireviks]

ATT is such a joke, first they claim best coverage by including worldwide coverage and now this. In theory ATTs 3G should be faster but in the real world its not, its so barebones in its coverage right now meaning they dont have 3g turned on on all the towers in a 3g area, only in about half. this means that you lose 3G in almost any decent sized building and have to use EDGE, which is sloooooooooowwwwwwww, at thats how it is in Phoenix right now. F U ATT!!

[rdoan76]

I have the AT&T Tilt and here in CT, the 3G coverage is excellent. I average anywhere from 800 kb/sec to 1 mb/sec. But for me, the most important reason I prefer AT&T's 3G network over Verizon's and Sprint's is that I can use the data and voice connection at the sametime on 3G. I had Verizon before and voice calls take priority over data connections. So if you are in the middle of a data connection/download, and a call comes on, the data connections is stopped until the phone call is over.

[joshljoshl]

That is a slick feature. However, for the price AT&T wants for unlimited data, I can afford to add an extra line to my Sprint account for $10/mo. Now I have more flexibility AND more speed all while saving money. FYI - I was ATT subscriber for 10+ years, had EDGE, finally went to EVDO rev.a, and won't go back until ATT re-thinks their pricing plans.

[sillyhermitcrab]

reading this article makes me wonder how the test was conducted.att has the fastest 3g network?hardly.they just went 3g like what,last year?verizon DOES use 3g,it's easier to implement onto a cdma network,and thats forgetting the fact that Sprint is about to go 4G later this year!but...sure,spend $50 more to have a service you'll never use in the way it says it can work.i'll keep my $50 and put it towards gas.

[areuserious]

HSPDA is a faster implementation of 3G than EV-DO.

Verizon will have to rip out its entire EV-DO network in order to get to LTE. Can't believe Vodafone let them do that. CDMA was the biggest mistake ever implemented by a US mobile phone company. GSM is a standard and has been for years. 2 billion people on GSM and 400 Million on CDMA. Get over it. Face facts, at&t has a faster network. Verizon customers are just bitter cause Verizon threw away the opportunity to sell the iPhone and now they are crying.

[yeahbaby123]

You people throwing out these terms. You don't know kaka. 3g is a generic term, which encompases EVDO and UMTS. LTE is 4g, as in 4th generation. its called CTIA, google it dummies!
HSPA IS the fastest, and in a significant way. Who else can offer video share but att? Oh yeah, and they will get the advantage over Verizon when they start LTE. Verizon will have a major hurdle to jump, and customer complaints will mount. Who do you think will make a phone that will do both LTE and EVDO? Talk about your niche market.

[rg1970]

The AT&T service is smoke and mirrors. On paper and in theory their system is faster but in practice it's not reliable. The voice service sucks too. In the area I live when it was still Cingular, people called it Crap-u-lar..lol My impression is AT&T does things halfassed. When they realize how much it costs to properly implement something they shy away from finishing it. From my personal experience Verizon has the best service in both voice and data. Their commercials about "it's the network" are right on the mark. Even though it will cost a king's ransom for Verizon to change to LTE I'm convinced they will implement it properly and it will "just work" like their current network does.

[ejeon1989]

Bull! EV-DO Rev. A from Verizon and Sprint are much faster than AT&T's network.

[xsydious]

Its funny. Everything is based on personal use and experience and preference. AT&T works great for me here (NW Houston). So does Verizon. Sprint is a little slower but works good too. And T-Mobile as well works ok. Heck, even Cricket has great reception. I have had all the services, numerous times. And that's only because I can never find a service that fits me 100% the way I want. Or I come across a new phone that another carrier brings out. So I break contract and move on. The closest thing to perfection in my personal experience has been AT&T and the iPhone. Followed by the Samsung Instinct on Sprint. Again kiddos, it is about preference. Stop hating on the ones that you don't like and just stick with the one you do.

[UralBas]

AT&T the fastest...... ROFL>>>>

In Houston.. based on Iphone Speed Test : i.dslr.net/tinyspeedtest.html
AT&T ping test 355ms... 640kpbs Iphone 3GS average
Verizon ping test 210ms ...880kbps Motorola Droid average
T-Mobile ping test 310ms ...1780kpbs G1 average...

So until they prove this wrong... please... Tell AT&T to provide proof... cause reality is something else.. they are the Slowest