AT&T tests speedier 3G network
AT&T's 3G wireless network will soon be twice as fast.
An executive at the company told Telephony Online this week that the company is running trials of its upgraded 3G network in two markets. And the company plans to expand the upgrades across its nationwide network once the trials are completed.
The upgrade to the company's HSPA network will provide peak download speeds of about 3.6Mbps. The company's current generation of technology offers peak download links speeds of 1.7 Mbps. Of course, real world data speeds are much lower. Most wireless subscribers get download speeds of around 700 Kbps.
A year ago, Ralph de la Vega, AT&T's mobility chief, said AT&T would be offering 20Mbps downloads over its wireless network as soon as 2009.
While the company plans to continue to upgrade its 3G network to squeeze out more capacity, the company has also said that it plans to deploy a 4G wireless network using Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. Verizon Wireless also plans to deploy LTE for its 4G network. The company is testing the service later this year and plans commercial deployments starting in 2010.
Faster wireless networks will key to providing more web functionality to handheld devices such as smartphones and Netbooks. Clearwire, which is using some of Sprint Nextel's wireless spectrum, is building a 4G nationwide network using a technology called WiMax.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
"AT&T how may we drop your call?"
I can tell you right away, that Clearwire's WiMax running at 3Mbps is a true 3Mbps, while half the time I can't tell whether T-Mobile's 3G network is running faster or slower than their EDGE network. There is a very good reason why you'd want wifi on your smartphone: it's a heck of a lot speedier to use a hotspot than it is to rely on your phone company's data network.
And TMo's 3G network deployment is still very limited...case in point, I was standing outside of a Costco right off the I-5 freeway, and only EDGE was available. Mind you, the city I was in, is the headquarters for Hollywood Video. Apparently Hollywood Video doesn't have enough weight these days.
- by ohiocelluser May 12, 2009 8:56 PM PDT
- AT&T's 3G service is bad throughout the Cincinnati, Ohio area. I have a new Nokia 6555 3G phone and have had nothing but problems with it. I frequently get dropped calls at all times of the day or night, the voice quality is poor-where it cuts out or echoes, there is a lot of static/crackling in the line when you attempt to make a call, many voice mails are lost or delayed, and text messages sometimes don't come through. The in-building reception is a lot worse than the regular 2G GSM network too. I've called customer service at least three times and the problems are never fixed. I just get the run around. Their answer is to reset the phone. This is my second phone, and it's doing the same thing as the first one did. Plus, a couple of my friends have iphones, and they are having the same issues. I would recommend going with Verizon, you will be much happier. Their network is more reliable. Plus, Verizon has better coverage in the Cincinnati area. Verizon seems to be the only good wireless carrier in the Cincinnati, Ohio market.
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