AT&T Spending Billions to Improve Its Wireless Service

[Ed Hardy]

With the success of smartphones like the Apple iPhone, customers sending more data over AT&T's wireless network than ever before. This carrier says it is spending billions to keep up with this growing demand.

According to an official statement from AT&T:

• We are nearly doubling the wireless spectrum serving 3G customers in hundreds of markets across the country, using high-quality 850 MHz spectrum. This additional spectrum expands overall network capacity and improves in-building reception.
• We are adding about 2,000 new cell sites to our network in 2009, expanding service to new cities and improving coverage in other areas.
• We’re adding about 100,000 new backhaul connections, which add critical capacity between cell sites and the global IP backbone network.
• We’re enabling widespread access to our Wi-Fi network – the largest in the country with more than 20,000 hotspots in all 50 states – allowing customers to take advantage of the best available AT&T mobile broadband connection.
• We’re rolling out even faster 3G speeds with deployment of HSPA 7.2 technology and are preparing for field trials of next generation, LTE wireless networks next year, with deployment planning to begin in 2011. This schedule aligns with industry expectations for when a wide variety of compatible 4G wireless devices should be available.

On the Defensive
AT&T has released this statement in response to recent accusations from online pundits that it has reduced spending on its wireless network to increase its short-term profits.

There are also complaints from many average AT&T users about their quality of service. Some of these come from iPhone users, but recently an expert came forward to say that the connection problems with Apple's smartphone are a result of its design, not AT&T's network.

Source: iPhone Blog

Related Articles:

• AT&T Drops Lawsuit Over Verizon TV Ads
• AT&T's 3G Network Really Is the Fastest in the U.S.
• iPhone's Connection Problems Could Be Self Inflicted
• AT&T Will Encourage Low Bandwidth Use, Not Punish Over-Users

[woodworthjohn]

"...but recently an expert came forward to say that the connection problems with Apple's smartphone are a result of its design, not AT&T's network."

You keep repeating this anonymous factoid. However, there is plenty of evidence that AT&T's network is at fault even if the above claim were valid. I had a top-of-the-line Nokia when I was on their network. It worked fine in other countries and networks but had hesitant service, dropped calls and weak or non existent signals here in the USA compared to my new service.

I was in San Francisco last night and we were trying to look something up on the internet with my daughter's iPhone 3GS/AT&T...Finally switched over to my BlackBerry to get the answer.

Look at the January 2010 issue of Consumer Reports. AT&T is consistently ranked last in every measure.

And show a little journalistic integrity. Repeating that an "expert came forward" is just not credible.

[Mi An]

"...but recently an expert came forward to say that the connection problems with Apple's smartphone are a result of its design, not AT&T's network."

You keep repeating this anonymous factoid.
...
And show a little journalistic integrity. Repeating that an "expert came forward" is just not credible.

It's not anonymous, it's from Roger Entner, senior vice president for telecommunications research at Nielsen. The story could stand to link to the BH story where he is quoted, but there's no foul play here, and no lack of credibility.

[Ed Hardy]

There's a link to my article quoting Entner in the "Related Articles" list under the title "iPhone's Connection Problems Could Be Self Inflicted". You can also find it at:
http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=16001

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[zap2]

We haven't seen the issue in other nations, which have iPhone, but not AT&T networks....I'm gonna go towards AT&T network being at fault. I just don't see that info, across other nation...that suggest AT&T is at fault(although I'd be interesting in any info suggest something else)..

[Ed Hardy]

The iPhone's role in this was discussed quite a bit here, with someone saying that the iPhone is having problems in other countries.
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[Hook]

As Lauren pointed out in another thread, it all depends on where you are. It is really hard to make sweeping statements about anyone's service. In Northern VA I get very good service from AT&T on my Nokia 5800. I spent a couple of days this week-end trapped in the VA mountains by the Blizzard and had 3G and clear voice all week-end. Talk about rural.

I believe that considered nation-wide, Verizon's coverage may be better in more places, but where AT&T is good, it's excellent. My experiences are all good, no matter what consumer reports says.

[zap2]

The iPhone's role in this was discussed quite a bit here, with someone saying that the iPhone is having problems in other countries.
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Not saying that the iPhone isn't at fault, but a comment by a forum member(based on other forum members posts) isn't really data.

Those with issues are just more incline to come online, come here or macrumors, and complain about issues. Doesn't mean there is a wide spread issue with the device. On a personal level, my Nokia E63, iPhone(3G and 3GS) and Treo Pro worked similarly well in my area(which is New Jersey, which is covered in a pretty solid 3G AT&T network)

[Varjak]

While only anecdotal, I know 3 people in the New York Metro area (including my sister) that were long-time ATT customers before the iPhone, tried iPhones, and went back to BlackBerries because the iPhones were essentially useless for phone calls. It's hardly scientific; but as the SNL joke suggested (Ed posted it elsewhere), the iPhone does everything well BUT work as a PHONE. They too are probably NYC-centric though.

[woodworthjohn]

Maybe I was a little grumpy in Post #2. Sorry. I like the New York Times article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/bu...digi.html?_r=1
in Post #3 which gives information in a balanced way. It certainly seems that, given the Consumer Reports article and the confessions of AT&T itself, they are surely having problems.

I'm sure one can make a tautological argument that the iPhone is responsible, and perhaps the large numbers of iPhone on their network have resulted in a subtle scaling problem with their network that they did not foresee. So far, though, I haven't seen any technical explanation or hypothesis.

The statement that the iPhone's has flawed technology which is responsible for AT&T's problems--as opposed to their oversold network--remains suspect since so far it is completely unsubstantiated with not even the hint of a technical explanation.

So, I still stand by Post#2 (except for the grumpiness).