AT&T recently chalked out plans to upgrade its 3G network, giving users faster mobile broadband speeds. The plans for network upgrading will commence later this year with an anticipated completion in 2011.
The company claims to offer one of the best mobile broadband experiences by upgrading its network to the High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology. This network platform will allow for theoretical peak speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. The real world downlink and uplink speeds on the 3G network will be lower than the theoretical peak based on the place, phone and network passage at a particular time. This technology will provide consumers a distinct combination of speed, coverage and some of the best devices.
“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,” remarked Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. 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.”
AT&T looks forward to enhance the speed of its mobile broadband with its network built on the commonly deployed 3G UMTS. While nearly all industry observers look ahead to 4G LTE networks and phones, the company presents an array of phones with this technology well in advance of 2011-2012. The 4G LTE technology from AT&T begins testing in 2010 while the initial deployment will start in 2011.
Apart from speed upgradation, AT&T is also enhancing its mobile broadband coverage by nearly doubling-up the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in the majority metropolitan areas. It will convey more overall network capacity and stronger in-building reception. The company is also introducing thousands of new cell sites to support the better broadband speeds offered by HSPA 702 and LTE.
Some other projects by AT&T for 2009 are Near-Doubling Radio Frequency Capacity, More Bandwidth to Cell Sites, Wi-Fi Integration, more cell sites and MicroCells. AT&T also plans to reveal multiple HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones later this year.