AT&T's 3G HSUPA is going to be ready by the end of June in time for the new iPhone launch.
AT&T announced a more than 20 percent increase to the top end of the
company's typical 3G network downlink speed range and a 50 percent
increase to the top end of the typical uplink speed range for wireless
laptop card customers(1). The upgrades are results of recent network
enhancements, including the deployment of High Speed Uplink Packet
Access (HSUPA) technology across all existing 3G markets before the end
of June.
The new typical wireless broadband speeds for LaptopConnect customers(1):
-- Downlink - Between 700 Kbps (kilobits per second) and 1.7 Mbps
(megabits per second), formerly 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps
-- Uplink - Between 500 Kbps and 1.2 Mbps, formerly 500 to 800 Kbps
AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network is available in more than 275
major U.S. metropolitan areas. Later this month, AT&T will become
the first U.S. carrier to have fully deployed High Speed Packet Access
(HSPA) technology across its entire 3G network. By year-end, the
company plans to offer 3G service in nearly 350 major metropolitan U.S.
areas.
Customers who use AT&T's LaptopConnect wireless cards can use
these new speeds to access large files and multimedia applications
faster than ever before(1). The new typical speed ranges reflect the
results of recent measurements performed during thousands of tests in
multiple markets.
The number of AT&T LaptopConnect subscribers increased more than
83 percent between the first quarters of 2007 and 2008, showing strong
demand for on-the-go data use.
Between 2005 and the end 2008, AT&T will have invested more than
$20 billion in network improvements and upgrades -- an average of $5
billion a year. The company's HSPA network is in the best position
among American carriers to grow in line with customer demand, evolving
to HSPA+ and providing next-generation speeds through a software
upgrade without costly investments across the breadth of the network.
As HSPA technology evolves between 2009 and 2010 to HSPA+, peak speeds
could reach 20 Mbps. AT&T plans to adopt LTE (Long Term Evolution)
technology to reach even higher speeds in the longer term.
(1) LaptopConnect customers must be using one of AT&T's four current
devices that support HSUPA technology or a laptop with embedded HSUPA
technology. The four devices are: AT&T USBConnect 881, Sierra
Wireless AirCard 881, Option GT Ultra and Option GT Ultra Express