Today, AT&T announced that it has completed HSPA 7.2 updates to all its 3G cell sites across the U.S. This was completed earlier than expected as AT&T decided to “expedite” the process to improve customer experience. But don’t get too excited just yet. Despite the upgrade, the faster bandwidth promised by HSPA 7.2 is still limited to a handful of select test cities, we’re told.
HSPA 7.2 is the technology that was promising to deliver data speeds about twice (7.2 Mbps, hence, the name) those of AT&T’s current 3G network. The technology became a topic of dicussion last year when it was revealed that the iPhone 3GS would be HSPA 7.2-compatible. Unfortunately, besides the select users in the initial test markets (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami), no one with the device has been able to utilize the speed increase and likely won’t for some time still.
So what’s the point of this upgrade if it doesn’t offer the faster promised speeds? Well, AT&T says the software upgrades done to make HSPA 7.2 possible will “result in a better overall customer experience by generally improving consistency in accessing data sessions.” Undoubtedly, this move comes at least partially as a result of a new round of criticism about the reliability of AT&T’s network. It also comes on the day that T-Mobile says it too has upgraded its network to HSPA 7.2. Like AT&T, T-Mobile is the other major GSM network in the U.S.
The move also comes amid all the hoopla Google and T-Mobile are getting today thanks to the new Nexus One device. While the unlocked phone will work on AT&T’s network, it won’t be compatible with AT&T’s 3G service. The Nexus One will, however, be able to run on T-Mobile at 7.2 Mbps, apparently.
The key to getting AT&T’s network up to the 7.2Mbps speed it upgrading its backhaul connections. That’s what AT&T is currently doing in the cities where it is testing the faster speeds, and it says it will continue rolling that out to more markets in 2010, and complete it in 2011. Of course, by then, hopefully we’ll be close to having LTE (next generation networks) coverage around the country.
AT&T says it has currently has 10 HSPA 7.2-compatible devices. They are:
- iPhone 3GS
- HTC PURE
- HTC Tilt2
- Samsung Jack
- LG eXpo
- LaptopConnect Mercury
- LaptopConnect Lightning
- Acer Aspire One
- Samsung Go
- HP Mini Netbook
[photo: flickr/ethan prater]
The technology because a topic of dicussion last year when it was revealed that the iPhone 3GS would be HSPA 7.2-compatible.
Should read:
The technology became a topic of dicussion last year when it was revealed that the iPhone 3GS would be HSPA 7.2-compatible.
As if AT&T is something that we will be remember on 2010? @ jameson – MMkay, at least you understand the sentence, right?
Seeing that deadlast carrier makes me sick: http://bit.ly/att-going-down-verizon-is-laughing
AT&T – better late than never mobility…new tag line: ” We’ll get to it eventually”.
so much win.
Wait. So when does San Francisco get the 7.2 coverage?
I have an iPhone 3GS and an AT&T LaptopConnect Mercury both aching to get this 7.2 megabits connection.
…..
Whenever the dolts in San Francisco quit filing lawsuits to block new cell towers. When the fools quit the debunked claim that cell towers cause brain cancer. (Sadly, the NIMBY crowd is what is holding back cell tower expansion in MANY areas. Really. Use the Google and you shall see. It’s ridiculous)
I’m from near San Francisco and I can tell you that the only thing SF has to blame is itself. Sad but true.
Isn’t it true that the upload speeds on the iPhone 3GS are limited by the chipsets? This upgrade would allow faster download speeds but we would still be stuck at a throttled upload speed because of the hardware right?
additionally, the list above may be what “They” (AT&T or At This Time @enufalready) have. While numerous devices have been around for some time with the ability, just needing the service support.
For ex: my Nokia devices (having come with the ability built in) and have only gotten faster each time a boost has been made by a carrier (no device/hardware or firmware changes necessary.)
Additionally, you (the user) has to have perfect conditions to actually achieve close to advertised speeds; no other users sharing the pipe (on the tower), proximity (signal strength), device capability, etc. One thing we will never see is (one person on the pipe).
So, technically it’s best to make the assumption that when any speed is announced (pretty much with any connectivity wired or wireless), cut that in half and you might get lucky enough to get those speeds.
“Today, AT&T announced that it has completed HSPA 7.2 updates to all its 3G cell sites across the U.S.”
Well, thats not true…
With all the performance problems they are having in San Francisco, thanks AT&T for screwing us again.
I’m just aching to get no dropped calls……
7.2 is so last year…
In (backwards) Australia we’re getting 24mbps HSPA early this year and already on 11mbps. We also have phones faster than the iphone to really make use of it. Feels really good too. My phone loads up websites way faster than any iphone.
All day in the bay area I’ve been dropping calls with ATT (iPhone) – and after posting the question on Facebook – about 20 other friends are all saying the same thing. Outage???
” Unfortunately, besides the select users in the initial test markets (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami), no one with the device has been able to utilize the speed increase and likely won’t for some time still.”
Well, just off the top of my head that’s from a population of over 20 million people. Anybody from those cities had a chance to try their 3GS with the new network and noticed a dramatic speed improvement?
Please keep in mind 7.2 is throughput with no one else on the network. Cut this is half for real world speeds.
Way to shaft NYC yet again AT&T, well played.
Wah, wah, wah – quit whining, you babies…you can always switch to Verizon where they have better 3G coverage (and the maps to prove it)! ;-0
BTW Barrett – just how much upload speed do you need – are you creating and uploading video from your iPhone? Give me a break already.
My biggest problem here in KY is that 3G coverage is sporadic unless you’re in one of the metro areas…it’s EDGE everywhere else. If you’re in a 3G area, though, it works well. Guess it sucks to live in a major city where you’re competing with a million other ‘have-to-be-connected-24×7s’, huh?
“Unfortunately, besides the select users in the initial test markets..”
I now live in one of those test markets (having had enough sense to get out of the Bay Area) and while we have the necessary software upgrade completed, the 7.2 speed isn’t there yet. I was sitting on the steps of AT&T’s corporate headquarters two weeks ago and I was still limited.
But even then, it’s not bad. Full coverage out here in the cow pastures, and I get 2mbit down / 260kbps up. Excellent coverage and no dropped calls. I’m pretty happy with that.