AT&T rolls out 7.2 everywhere

[Steve686]

What is this 7.2 Mb/s that you speak of? I clock in at 252 Kb/s in San Francisco .

Back to the beginning of this thread with you!!

Tower upgrades have been made to the network. Only 6 major markets will start it off in a testing phase this year. Should be more prominent by 2012...when the world is going to end anyway.

 

[thelatinist]

Tower upgrades have been made to the network. Only 6 major markets will start it off in a testing phase this year. Should be more prominent by 2012...when the world is going to end anyway.

Actually, this thread was about the fact that they have completed the upgrade to all towers already, ahead of schedule. This does not mean that we will all be seeing huge speed improvements, though, because the backhaul is not ready to support it. Internet speeds are always as slow as the weakest link.

Think of this 7.2 upgrade like upgrading your Wireless-b router to a Wireless-g router. If it's hooked up to 1.5 Mbps DSL, your download rate will stay the same, even though your network is almost 5 times faster.

 

[Steve686]

Actually, this thread was about the fact that they have completed the upgrade to all towers already, ahead of schedule. This does not mean that we will all be seeing huge speed improvements, though, because the backhaul is not ready to support it. Internet speeds are always as slow as the weakest link.

Think of this 7.2 upgrade like upgrading your Wireless-b router to a Wireless-g router. If it's hooked up to 1.5 Mbps DSL, your download rate will stay the same, even though your network is almost 5 times faster.

This is why I referred to the 6 TEST markets starting it off. I have already seen a big increase on some tests last weekend in Miami, FL, one of the listed TEST markets. I went from an average of 1750kbps and usually a max of 2200kbps, to a peak of 3789kbps BEFORE ATT announced the completion.

There is something amiss in MY market, for sure.

And as far as what the OP used as a headline, he would be more clear to everyone else if he would have worded it, "All ATT towers are now 7.2 capable", versus saying that ATT has rolled out 7.2 everywhere. I pointed this area out in my first post in this thread.

 

[Mischka07]

Huh? San Francisco isn't one of the test markets? You'd think its population size and economic bang would be reason enough to make it one of the test markets. Did we find another endangered species of moss by one of the towers? Or did we have another protest against being one of the test markets?

 

[rjohnstone]

Huh? San Francisco isn't one of the test markets? You'd think its population size and economic bang would be reason enough to make it one of the test markets. Did we find another endangered species of moss by one of the towers? Or did we have another protest against being one of the test markets?

L.A. is bigger.
AT&T chose them over S.F.

What gets me is why they skipped NYC as a test market.

And yea... some tree huggers up in S.F. are probably blocking any new tower construction for fear of radiation affecting the plants around the towers or some crazy crap like that.
Who knows.

 

[Steve686]

Huh? San Francisco isn't one of the test markets? You'd think its population size and economic bang would be reason enough to make it one of the test markets. Did we find another endangered species of moss by one of the towers? Or did we have another protest against being one of the test markets?

I've read here numerous times how bad service is in San Fran. If you were ATT would you want to test future technology in regards to cell towers where you already have problems.

From what I've read, they can't handle the load now. Faster 7.2 speeds wouldn't help with the load, would it? Dunno.

 

[TurboSC]

Here's a great idea, instead of trying to go faster, maybe start by not dropping my calls. kthx.

 

[Steve686]

L.A. is bigger.
AT&T chose them over S.F.

What gets me is why they skipped NYC as a test market.

And yea... some tree huggers up in S.F. are probably blocking any new tower construction for fear of radiation affecting the plants around the towers or some crazy crap like that.
Who knows.

Here is the Sep. 9, 2009 announcement from ATT.

AT&T today announced its plans for rolling out 7.2 Mbps 3G data service on its network. Deployment will begin in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, with service in those cities beginning by the end of the year. Service will be extended over the following two years to cover approximately 90% of the current U.S. 3G network area.
AT&T plans to begin deployment of HSPA 7.2 in six major U.S. cities, including Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, with initial service availability expected in these markets by the end of the year. All told, the company plans to deploy HSPA 7.2 in 25 of the nation's 30 largest markets by the end of 2010, and to reach about 90 percent of its existing 3G network footprint with HSPA 7.2 by the end of 2011.

AT&T announced in late May that it would be deploying the technology, which doubles the theoretical speed of its existing 3G network as an interim step toward LTE (4G) offerings scheduled to begin rolling out in 2011.

Apple's iPhone 3GS, released in June, does support the faster 7.2 Mbps download speed being deployed, although it is apparently unable to support the faster upload speeds associated with the new standard.

 

[techwarrior]

I would prefer that AT&T figure out why when someone calls me, sometimes the phone never rings, I never get an indication that anyone called.

I'd also like them to figure out why sometimes I receive voicemails hours later than they were actually left.

I'd also like them to work on the whole dropped-call issue.

Ditto... I enjoy the same issues on occasion.

 

[thelatinist]

This is why I referred to the 6 TEST markets starting it off. I have already seen a big increase on some tests last weekend in Miami, FL, one of the listed TEST markets. I went from an average of 1750kbps and usually a max of 2200kbps, to a peak of 3789kbps BEFORE ATT announced the completion.

There is something amiss in MY market, for sure.

And as far as what the OP used as a headline, he would be more clear to everyone else if he would have worded it, "All ATT towers are now 7.2 capable", versus saying that ATT has rolled out 7.2 everywhere. I pointed this area out in my first post in this thread.

I'm sorry, but you don't seem to understand that that test period is over. They even skipped the intermediate 30-market test they had planned. HSDPA 7.2 has been fully implemented network-wide. Everyone with a 3G signal now has an HSDPA 7.2 data connection, with the theoretical capability of reaching speeds of 7.2 Mbps. There will always be limiting factors such as network congestion, bandwidth limitations, and backhaul limits (even on phones in markets that have already had backhaul upgrades), and it is fair to label this a premature upgrade. But it's not accurate to charachterize it as only a six-market test.

 

[Steve686]

I'm sorry, but you don't seem to understand that that test period is over. They even skipped the intermediate 30-market test they had planned. HSDPA 7.2 has been fully implemented network-wide. Everyone with a 3G signal now has an HSDPA 7.2 data connection, with the theoretical capability of reaching speeds of 7.2 Mbps. There will always be limiting factors such as network congestion, bandwidth limitations, and backhaul limits (even on phones in markets that have already had backhaul upgrades), and it is fair to label this a premature upgrade. But it's not accurate to charachterize it as only a six-market test.

I think it's worse to tell people it's rolled out everywhere and they can't figure out why their speeds haven't increased. So it's basically a parallel to the Verizon versus ATT coverage maps in that you have to interpret their statement your own way.

 

[aristobrat]

I think it's worse to tell people it's rolled out everywhere and they can't figure out why their speeds haven't increased.

I think AT&T was just stating it in a "hey, we know the network still has issues, but this is what we've done to it lately", even if the latest milestone doesn't fix much. This 7.2Mb/s thing laid the foundation for some good things to come in the future...

 

[kdarling]

Just for info, here's the original ATT press release:

San Francisco, California, January 5, 2010

AT&T* today announced completion of a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds.

The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology across 3G cell sites is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T’s network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with the best possible mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future. After full testing of HSPA 7.2 software, AT&T decided to expedite deployment of this initial upgrade, which will result in a better overall customer experience by generally improving consistency in accessing data sessions. The software upgrade also prepares the network for faster speeds and increases network efficiency.

Faster 3G speeds will come as AT&T combines the new technology with enhanced cell site backhaul connections over the course of 2010 and 2011. AT&T is in the midst of this second initiative to dramatically increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic connections, adding capacity from cell sites to the AT&T backbone network. The combination of HSPA 7.2 technology and enhanced backhaul will support theoretical peak maximum speeds of 7.2 megabits per second, though as with any mobile broadband network, actual speeds will be lower than the theoretical maximum and will vary due to a number of factors.

In addition to the HSPA 7.2 software, initial deployment of backhaul is already underway in the six U.S. cities announced in 2009 as initial HSPA 7.2 markets – Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, with capabilities being turned up on a site-by-site basis beginning last month. Further backhaul deployment will continue in these markets and begin in additional markets across the nation. We anticipate that the majority of our mobile data traffic will be carried over the expanded fiber-based, HSPA 7.2-capable backhaul by the end of this year, with deployment continuing to expand in 2011.

“We are focused on providing our customers with the industry’s best combination of mobile broadband speed, performance, coverage and available devices,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations, who announced the network updates at the Citigroup 20th Annual Global Entertainment, Media & Telecommunications Conference today. “As we light up new backhaul connections across the country, we’re able to deliver a meaningful 3G speed boost for millions of customers who are already using HSPA 7.2-compatible devices. At the same time, we’re also looking to the future with these backhaul enhancements, which will support our move to next-generation LTE technology starting in 2011.”

As new backhaul connections are completed, AT&T 3G wireless customers will benefit from enhanced mobile broadband capacity, and the millions of AT&T customers who already have HSPA 7.2-compatible devices will immediately see the faster speeds enabled by the new technology. AT&T offers a total of 10 HSPA 7.2-compatible devices today, including the iPhone 3G S. Additional HSPA 7.2-compatible devices will be introduced in 2010.

The backhaul upgrades are also a key step in the evolution toward next-generation LTE mobile broadband technology. AT&T is designing its new backhaul deployments to accommodate both faster 3G and future LTE deployments. AT&T currently plans to begin trials of LTE technology this year, and to begin LTE deployment in 2011, matching industry time lines for widespread availability of compelling devices and supporting network equipment.

“Even as we look forward to LTE, 3G will be the predominant mobile broadband network technology worldwide for smartphones for the next few years,” said Stankey. “AT&T’s strategy will deliver faster 3G speeds over the next two years, while also allowing us to build the foundation for the LTE future.”

The 3G and LTE upgrade initiatives follow a series of major enhancement projects in 2009 that have dramatically enhanced performance of AT&T’s wireless network. AT&T last year deployed five times the number of backhaul connections compared with 2008. Additionally, AT&T in 2009 deployed high-quality 850 MHz spectrum in hundreds of markets to support 3G services and added thousands of new cell sites to expand and enhance 3G coverage. All told, in 2008 and through Q3 of 2009 AT&T invested approximately $19 billion toward wireless, with a focus on expanding and enhancing network capabilities, including network infrastructure, spectrum purchases and acquisitions.

These efforts have resulted in AT&T continuing to deliver the nation’s fastest 3G network, and in delivering 3G national call retainability of 98.92 percent, meaning that only 1.08 percent of calls are dropped nationwide, based on 3G-specific, internal data.

 

[alent1234]

I'm sorry, but you don't seem to understand that that test period is over. They even skipped the intermediate 30-market test they had planned. HSDPA 7.2 has been fully implemented network-wide. Everyone with a 3G signal now has an HSDPA 7.2 data connection, with the theoretical capability of reaching speeds of 7.2 Mbps. There will always be limiting factors such as network congestion, bandwidth limitations, and backhaul limits (even on phones in markets that have already had backhaul upgrades), and it is fair to label this a premature upgrade. But it's not accurate to charachterize it as only a six-market test.

playing around with some of the speedtest data, the limiting factor now is that AT&T's routing is screwed up. it's so bad, it's insane

in NYC to get data from another NYC server my data goes to Kansas, back to NJ, to Florida and back to NYC with maybe another stop in NJ for a rest break

 

[megadon]

Don't get too excited boys..Rogers has that in Canada already, 7.2. But that is only if you're like standing right underneath the tower.

No one will hit those speeds on a regular basis. EVER. And I live one of the major 3 cities with the best coverage.

 

[abz786]

People really need to understand that Rogers in Canada has 7.2 Country Wide
21mbps is only in the 3 majo cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto)

But as megadon said, No one EVER hits thos speeds!!
ARG!!!
Pisses me off to!

Don't get too excited boys..Rogers has that in Canada already, 7.2. But that is only if you're like standing right underneath the tower.

No one will hit those speeds on a regular basis. EVER. And I live one of the major 3 cities with the best coverage.

 

[rjohnstone]

Just for info, here's the original ATT press release:

San Francisco, California, January 5, 2010

AT&T* today announced completion of a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds.
*snip

So it looks like the backhaul upgrades are actually the prep for the LTE conversion.
Makes sense... upgrade once since it will serve the current 3G needs as well as LTE's future needs.

$19 billion on upgrades ain't exactly pocket change.

 

[vinay427]

Even with the iPhone 3G, my speeds have improved a LOT over the past few weeks.

Before: Around 100/120
Now: 1400/300

 

[joejoejoe]

everyone needs to understand that only the 3GS can handle 7.2.

If you have an iPhone 3G you won't get 7.2 speeds on 3G, ever.


Also, everyone keeps mentioning that their speeds have improved with numbers, are any of you experiencing real world differences in speed? Is it noticeable when you're checking email, browsing the web?

 

[megadon]

everyone needs to understand that only the 3GS can handle 7.2.

If you have an iPhone 3G you won't get 7.2 speeds on 3G, ever.


Also, everyone keeps mentioning that their speeds have improved with numbers, are any of you experiencing real world differences in speed? Is it noticeable when you're checking email, browsing the web?

I got a 3GS, and I had a 3G before, and I live in vancouver which is supposed to have one of the fastest speeds in the country, alone with Toronto and Montreal.

But as I said before, you will never EVER reach those speeds. It's just a marketing, they say speeds "up to 7.2"

and going from the 3G to the 3GS, I noticed a slight increase in speed of actual browsing and what not, but not that much.

I never knew how bad AT&T was till I came on this forum.. hope they fix the problems for you guys.

 

[Resist]

I am not seeing any speed increase for my 3G iPhone in my area.

 

[curmudgen]

I just want 3G !!!! Rep in our area went from saying over a 2 week period that final tweaks are being done and it would be up end of week to sorry, maybe march!!!!

 

[alent1234]

everyone needs to understand that only the 3GS can handle 7.2.

If you have an iPhone 3G you won't get 7.2 speeds on 3G, ever.


Also, everyone keeps mentioning that their speeds have improved with numbers, are any of you experiencing real world differences in speed? Is it noticeable when you're checking email, browsing the web?

biggest difference i see is when i get home to my 10mbps cable that hits 15mbps sometimes

biggest problem on AT&T now is their screwed up backend

 

[jav6454]

Don't get too excited boys..Rogers has that in Canada already, 7.2. But that is only if you're like standing right underneath the tower.

No one will hit those speeds on a regular basis. EVER. And I live one of the major 3 cities with the best coverage.

Yes, this has been discussed thread wise. 7.2 is the theoretical and under optimal conditions. Real world, you will see a max of ~4Mb/s. Still fast for the average person paying $20/month for 1.5Mb/s cable/DSL lines.

 

[kdarling]

Yes, this has been discussed thread wise. 7.2 is the theoretical and under optimal conditions. Real world, you will see a max of ~4Mb/s.

And the real world average will be ~2.4 Mbps.

Still fast for the average person paying $20/month for 1.5Mb/s cable/DSL lines.

Yes, for $1 a day, basically unlimited broadband mobile at even 1Mbps is an incredible deal.

We used to pay by connection minute for only ~14Kbps a decade ago. (You sure didn't want to take your time on the web back then!)