AT&T announces slew of network investments for 2010
By Chris Ziegler 
posted March 6th 2010 11:16AM
posted March 6th 2010 11:16AM
AT&T's preaching about the mucho dinero it's dropping into renovating its network to pretty much anyone who'll listen these days, and a veritable cornucopia of press releases this week start to go into detail on some of the upgrades we'll be seeing over the course of 2010. We're counting at least a dozen here, covering everything from New York City to Florida to Oklahoma, but the message is basically the same in every one: more cell sites, more 3G coverage, more backhaul. AT&T liberally pimps its nine-figure investments in most states over the past several years, too -- but of course, phones need spectrum to communicate, not blank checks and promises. Let's see how we finish the year after those iPads, next-gen iPhones, and AT&T-compatible Nexus Ones (our fingers are crossed) have had a chance to slam the airwaves for a bit, shall we?
@leykis101
Agreed
But its difficult when they have the heaviest data usage. The amount used since the launch of iPhone 3G was over 4000% increase in data usage.
Apple should of helped AT&T build up the network before the launch of the 3G version.
This is good news. Hopefully we'll get 3G finally in the 66502. Every other carrier has 3G service here including T-Mobile.
3G Telluride, por favor?
It wasn't too long ago when AT&T's GSM/GPRS coverage was the worst in the country. We're talking serious suckage. But their TDMA network during that time was rock solid. Fast-forward to 2010, their 2G GSM/EDGE coverage is now comparable to Verizon's voice network (speaking from experience there). But now their 3G coverage is what lags behind Verizon. AT&T's 3G coverage reminds me a lot of their 2G coverage back in the day; shoddy, spotty, and just plain shitty. But when AT&T says they're aggressively "raising the bar" on network improvements....boy they don't kid around. If their network/cell/coverage investments in the past are any indication, you'll see very significant improvements to their network in pretty short time. And with the deployment of 850MHz spectrum, my guess is the quality of their coverage will be the best in the country. That's my take on it anyway. That spectrum can get a signal into a bomb shelter! Okay, not literally, but you get the idea.
@The Mac Daddy
You're absolutely right. I've been an AT&T customer for over 10-years. I was with them during the transition from AT&T to Cingular and back to AT&T. I can remember when the they forced us to upgrade our phones to GSM because they were killing the TDMA towers.
I recently spoke to an AT&T RF engineer during an in-building DAS implementation and I was told that AT&T was aggressively adding T1s and fiber back haul to existing sites and adding 3G capability to 850MHz sites to keep up with demand. In my area, 850MHz and 1900Mhz 3G reception is very good.
@dand I hope he was kidding about a T1 backhaul. T1 is barely good enough for a single user. Forget about providing "fast" internet to NUMEROUS users.
@The Mac Daddy
No, he wasn't. We're spread out pretty far here in Utah and a lot of the sites get their backhaul via microwave so adding T1s for the rural areas makes sense. In the metro, it's fiber all the way.
@The Mac Daddy
Oh man, I remember that. Their TDMA network was super solid but going nowhere because there was no data capability. My bro signed up for their service back in like 2002 because they offered an unheard of (at the time) 100 bucks a month unlimited talk plan and the color screened little t68i. That was when they only had coverage in the 1900 band and the service was terrible. I guess that's just how it goes.
@dand
AT&T will add up to 16 copper T1 lines to a cell site if there's no fiber available. Otherwise put up a microwave hop. But since they own the copper in the ground in a lot of places anyway, they use that resource even if it's kinda low-tech.
@Engadget
Can we non-American's get a non-competition version of the site? I think we're all getting bored of seeing all this awesome stuff we can't put our names in for.
Sorry for the comment hi-jack, I figure that with 7k+ comments that there's no point posting this in the comments of the latest American-only competition.
fuck att sprint all the way
@achulo52 Sprint sucks sewer water here in upstate NY. Hope you don't call CS too,or else they will drop your dumbass. Idiot!!!
@frothe3 what? I'm in upstate new york and sprint always worked fine. Judging from your response though, im guessing sprint canceled you after you called up screaming a few to many times.
@frothe3
Sounds like called too many times squeezing for credits.. Try that on AT&T too and see what they do.
You can polish a turd, but it's still a turd.
@leykis101 wow can you sound anymore like an idiotic fanboy than you already are?
Iphone 4g in 3 months? What purpose would that be when AT&T doesn't even have 4g yet? Even if you bought the supposed Iphone 4g what purpose would it have because AT&T wouldn't have support for it yet.
YES!!!! I GOT AN IPHONE 4g but I only get 3g speeds :(. They aren't even supposed to go to 4g until next year. GL with your Iphone 4g ...fanboy.
@Drybones5 The reason the crackphone is a data hog is that there is software that has the phone on DATA ALL THE TIME,EVEN WHEN NOT USING DATA THE PHONE IS USING DATA. Remember when people went to EU and came back with $1.500 phone bills when the crackphone first came out?! That is because the phone is ALWAYS USING THE DATA PORTION OF THE NETWORK!! I hate crackphones and crakcberry's because every young crackhead has one one. Even an older dumbass up in Peyton Place (aka Windham,NY) in his Porsche Cayenne couldn't put down his crackberry while driving!!! Only SE phones for me (a C905 and a W518a).
@greatbam iPhone 4G = 4th generation iPhone. Not 4G speeds.
@greatbam
Fairly confident that iPhone 4G is 4th Generation, not LTE. Although it *could* be.
@hx3 Yeah your probably I always forget the 4g also could mean 4th generation plus this is an article talking about AT&T's network which is also why I was thinking 4g as in the wireless network.
@leykis101 AT&T has put VZW and Sprint to shame? I think not. Sprint's ubiquitous 3G coverage gives me a steady broadband connection almost anywhere. I don't care how theoretically fast AT&T's 3G network is if half the time it doesn't work! With VZW rolling out LTE this year and Sprint ramping up WiMax launches, I am hoping AT&T will get a kick to the balls to make it realize it's still just a company.
AT&T hired a bunch of people at the beginning of the year for network improvements. The cell sites are pretty much already out there but they need a ton more backhaul capacity and more RNCs (radio network controllers) to manage all the data traffic. They hired 30+ people in the northeast region to take care of this work. Started a couple months ago and are going to be working on this project straight on through to the end of the year. They're doing the same all over the country actually. They're building some cell sites but not a ton. They have plenty of cell sites but they rushed to get them all built out and providing voice service, but they never had a ton of data capacity. So yeah, the big push this year is adding that capacity. Speaking VERY generally you won't see a ton of improvement in plain old signal strength or reception, but data speeds will be much more reliable for a given connection strength and way less problems not being able to access data in densely populated areas.
It's hilarious to see that with all these network improvements, they haven't bothered improving the reception in my general area(suburb of SF). All my friends(who are on AT&T), still have coverage issues/latency issues on their respective phones. Gotta say, Sprints REALLY solid in my area, and its cheaper.
@blainer Someone needs to get on their ass about fixing it then. Though theybhav stated that work is in progress though, it just takes time.
They haven't done too bad in Oklahoma. I got 3G last year, in a town of only 25000. Although, it needs some improvement in the eastern part of the state. And I want them to step up there wired netowrk here. My WISP is okay...considering what it is. But I want my DSL already! SWBell promised 15 years ago we'd be covered by 2005. But they merged with AT&T D=
To tell the truth 3G in New York City is much improved. I am still getting dropped calls but a lot better I must say. So they are doing something.
yeah I now get about 4mbps in Bloomfield, and my coverage in Madison has been solid. The network in NJ has been greatly improved, but we also have like 100% 3g coverage in NJ except for the mil bases where nobody is anyway.
AT&T needs to step up their game along Interstate highways and then spread out from there, a strategy that has worked GREAT for them on the I-87 corridor in New York state. Its not really a "They suck" its just, well, you can't roll out 6 million cell sites in 24 hours. You can't do it in 24 days. The resources simply aren't there. Although, that could be a really cool way to get and spend some American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money...
:shrug:
Even after 5 years (including the Cingular days), dropped calls have been reduced, but I almost always still get calls connected using half-rate on the voice codec, which is still stupid. I like clear calls, not calls that sound like they're underwater.
@greatbam wow I get downranked for calling out a fanboy for what he is. Niiiiice.
I don't know who the numb-skull is that keeps stating that the recent FCC filing was for an AT&T compatible Nexus One. It's the AT&T friendly HTC Desire. It is NOT the Nexus One. It will not be sold through Google. Will there be some day? Maybe. But that FCC filing was NOT it. Just because you printed it earlier, doesn't make it fact today.
@McHale First of all, calling me a "numb-skull" isn't going to get you anywhere. Secondly, the evidence that it's a Desire is no stronger than the evidence that it's a Nexus One -- you act as though this has been confirmed or that we've even seen strong evidence. Thirdly, the Desire and Nexus One are virtually the same thing -- in fact, there are precisely two notable differences between them (Sense and the optical pad).
@Chris Ziegler - Once again I'd like to up-rank an editor!
@McHale
Way to stay on-topic guys
@Chris Ziegler 1st I'm not trying to *GET* anywhere or anything. 2nd Did you actually LOOK at the FCC decals? One says Nexus One and the other doesn't. 3rd, Google released the original Nexus One 1 month after the FCC clearance. Wouldn't you think Google would make an announcement by now for an ATT model if they were going to push it out BEFORE the Verizon Nexus One especially since the Verizon one was announced BEFORE it cleared the FCC? 4th, if there is no evidence for or against, why claim it IS? 5th, there is a *HUGE* difference between the Nexus One and the Desire. The Nexus One will be easily available directly through Google and the other will be a PITA in just about every category because AT&T messed with it. 6th, if you actually *READ* the FCC documents, you'd see something in there that tells you it is NOT the Nexus One besides the decal. 7th, The Desire is coming to AT&T and it's being tested right now (an AT&T Desire, not the Nexus One). There are more points but you get the gist. Google didn't release an AT&T compatible Nexus One because AT&T as releasing the Desire once testing is complete and the Nexus One would have destroyed their Android and Desire launch. Now you guys can keep talking about an AT&T Nexus One that NOBODY and I mean NOBODY has confirmed yet but the FCC filing proves otherwise.
Whoever made the picture for this story deserves much praise. Gave me a very good laugh.
Too little, too late. I got sick of waiting for them to do something. The company has little insterest in doing anything besides tying customers into contranct and services so they cannot leave (I work for them....please someone else hire me). An example of there "Great" network...
Here in Goldsboro, NC, a military city of nearly 160k we have 3G nowwhere on AT&T. (meanwhile an town of ~15k 20 miles away have full 3G!). I could barely make a call 95% of the time and barely got over 100kbps on EDGE with pings around 1600ms. Switched to Verizon a month ago. Full 3G everywhere I go!. 700kbps-1.2mbps download and crisp, clear calls. And I still only pay about $12 more than AT&T w/ and employee discount of 19%. AT&T is little more than cheap comedy!
They finally stepped up their game out here in north central/north west Massachusetts. Specifically from Shelburne all the way to Orange, along RT2. To bad I switched to VZW a month before they did it.
I blame Verizon's commercials.
I'm glad there upgraded the network but can go ahead and upgrade there phone selection.
I live in a small town in northern KY and at my house I am always on EDGE with a full signal. I do not think At&t will up grade the tower where I live any time soon. It will probly be one of the last tower upgrades AT&T does. I have 3g all around my area. From Florence KY. To Cincinnati Ohio. 3G is basically in bigger towns all around where I live. I have 2 3G iPhones and 2 3GS iPhones on my account so most of my bill is paying for data. I pay $150 in data for. The 4 iPhones I have on my account. $150 for EDGE service. Plus I have 2 lap-top connect cards on my account. My phone bill mostly paying for data. I would like to see At&t offer a family shared data plan for one low price. $30.00 for each IPhone -$20 in data for the 5th phone on my account and $60 for each lap-top connect card. Plus on top of that $30 for Family shared text message plan for all 5 phones. Data is a bit much
Don't tell me what you're GOING to do; brag about it when you are DONE.
30 new cellsites in Oklahoma and their general coverage area has not increased one bit! I can't identify those 4 new cities in Oklahoma they claim to have added 3G coverage to. They still haven't replaced the coverage to the Dobson home area they had to give up in the merger several years ago. We AT&T customers used to be able to roam on Dobson, but we can't roam on CellularOne/Dobson here any more, this coverage area changed to No Service on AT&T's coverage maps after the merger.
as a resident of zipcode 38221, i was overjoyed a couple of weeks ago when i saw a crew laying down some orange 4" fiber pipe.
it's either going to be backhaul for a sorely needed cell tower or Uverse.
either way we're not going to be digital stepchildren for too awful much longer.
I now feel everyone's pain! AT&T doesn't work anywhere in the building where I now work. I don't get that many personal calls, but it's still irritating to know that I'm stuck paying for this crappy, useless service for another year! Now I have to decide if it's worth paying the ETF to switch my iPhone to TMobile.
Central jersey here with 100% 3g coverage. Last year I managed 4-6 dropped calls per week. It may be My luck but recently I've lost maybe 1-3 calls with a random missed text. It's not perfect but it's getting better.