AT&T Spending Billions to Improve Its Wireless Service

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