Apple Thoughts - News & Reviews on all things Apple

"Now that AT&T has taken its lumps from competitors and users over the size of its 3G network, the company is determined not to be caught flat footed again."

So the day after iPad, AT&T comes out with information that basically says we won't let you down. They are committing to investing $2 billion USD on improving their wireless network in 2010 adding approximately 2,000 new cell sites to expand coverage. AT&T also expects by the end of 2011 to have 90 percent of their 3G network covered with the transition to HSPA 7.2 technology. Even though this came on the heels of the iPad announcement, I don't think this will be as much a drain on the AT&T network as others are thinking it will be. I'm of the opinion that this will mainly be in the home or used where there is Wi-Fi available for the most part. I could be wrong, but I'm basing it on the fact that the iPad, while portable, isn't like the iPhone that is carried everywhere you go. I see the regular user having it in a place they normally use Wi-Fi like the home, office or dorm. What are your thoughts?

"AT&T today announced completion of a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation's fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology across 3G cell sites is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T's network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with the best possible mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future."

The work to upgrade the backbone to support a "theoretical" peak speed of 7.2 megabits per second will continue through 2011. However, if you are in one of the six cities they are currently working on (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami) you should see benefits soon. For the rest of us, they expect most of it to be done by the end of 2010, finishing up by the end of 2011. 

"AT&T is increasing the downlink capacity on its high-speed packet access (HSPA) from 3.6 megabits per second to 7.2 Mb/s through software upgrades at the base station, Scott McElroy, AT&T Mobility vice president of technology realization told Telephone Online. AT&T currently has the enhanced networks running in two test markets but plans to extend those capabilities to its entire network. Later this year, AT&T plans to start migrating its 3G networks to evolved-HSPA (or HSPA+), which would triple peak speeds."

I would be happier if they'd just get me into the neighborhood of the 3.6 the network is capable of now. I usually rock about 500-700k down, which is not terrible, but it just isn't anywhere near the 3.6 that can be achieved, so when I hear numbers like 7.2 being bandied about, I get excited, but I'm not exactly expecting anywhere near that. I think anyone who is is a bit naive.

Out of curiosity, where are you guys located and what kind of 3G speeds are you seeing, if you even get a 3G signal?