Full Story

Whether it's sharing videos and photos with friends, watching a movie, surfing the Web, or listening to the latest music on your cool new wireless device or laptop computer, we're delivering the network to help you meet your ever-growing mobile needs.

At AT&T, we're working tirelessly to continue to upgrade our network infrastructure and implement technology upgrades to continue to provide the level of service and reliability that our customers expect. With both the nation's fastest 3G network and the largest Wi-Fi network, AT&T is the best choice for wireless voice and data services in the country.

We deliver 3G mobile to more than 350 U.S. major metropolitan areas today with additional markets slated to come online this year. We're also deploying high-quality 850 Mhz spectrum in several hundred 3G markets to increase capacity and improve in-building coverage.

And we're continuing to invest to build the broadband networks that will bring you quick access the content, applications and services that matter most. In 2009 alone, we're planning to invest between $17 billion and $18 billion, billions of which is going toward wireless. These enhancements are designed to ensure that our customers reap all the benefits of the nation's fastest wireless 3G network and the widest array of mobile devices and applications.

Visit often to learn the latest AT&T wireless network news.

The Nation's Fastest 3G Network

How do you make a blazing-fast 3G mobile broadband network even better? You make it faster by deploying the latest in wireless technology and supporting it with the largest backbone network in the world.

AT&T plans this year to begin deployment of HSPA 7.2 technology, which will provide a considerable speed boost to what is already the nation's fastest 3G mobile broadband network. This upgrade should reach about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint by the end of 2011. We're also adding thousands of new cell site backhaul connections to support the higher mobile broadband speeds enabled by HSPA 7.2 and future technologies.

With 3G and HSPA speeds, not only can you surf the Web and download files faster, but also experience the very latest interactive mobile applications. As innovative new applications like these continue to emerge, we'll continue to expand and enhance the network to give you the most out of your mobile devices.

We will also continue to evolve the network toward next generation technologies like Long-Term Evolution (LTE) to deliver higher speeds and capacity in the years to come.

Spectrum

More spectrum can make for better performance and reliability. And today, AT&T's strong spectrum holdings will help us to enhance further the quality and reliability of existing wireless broadband and voice services, and to set the foundation for new-generation wireless broadband technologies and services.

We currently provide wireless service using the 1900 MHz and 850 MHz frequency ranges, with additional spectrum in the 850 MHz range targeted for additional 3G coverage this year. Spectrum in the 700 MHz, 1700 MHz, and 2100 MHz range is becoming available for use which gives us greater spectrum depth and flexibility to help us meet your increasing demands for mobile services including voice, data and video.

But beyond that, we're doing more to manage the airwaves more efficiently to bring you more — we're deploying faster wireless network technology to provide faster access and will continue to evolve as demands grow for services.

Coverage

We continue to expand our coverage throughout the country. In the last two years, we added the network assets of Dobson Communications Corp., Edge Wireless and Easterbrooke Cellular Corporation to provide enhanced coverage for all AT&T customers in rural and suburban areas.

For more information about AT&T's wireless coverage anywhere in the United States, visit our online Wireless Network Coverage Viewer. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

Technology

AT&T's wireless network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. This dominant technology means that AT&T customers benefit from global roaming capability, prioritized research and development, the best options in cutting-edge devices, and smoother evolution to newer technologies.

It also means that AT&T offers 3G data roaming in more than 100 countries, as well as voice services in more than 215 countries.

The GSM/UMTS platform enables continued enhancement of 3G speeds as we evolve to the latest generation of technologies, evidenced by our current initiative that upgrades our 3G network with HSPA 7.2 over the next two years. It will also enable full backward compatibility for 4G services based on LTE as it emerges, ensuring that you will be able to enjoy the fastest-available connection in a given area.

While techie terms like GSM, 3G, EDGE, HSPA and LTE may not mean much to most wireless customers, AT&T works behind the scenes with this alphabet soup of technology to deliver the network experience that you want.

• The Best Technology
• Network Technology

Related News Releases

Related News Releases

3G Market Announcements

East

Midwest

Southeast

Southwest

West