AT&T Announces Plans to Increase 3G Upload Speeds By Christmas

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSL2520685320070925' target='_blank'>http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSL2520685320070925</a><br /><br /></div><em><span id="intelliTxt"><p>&quot;Richard Burns, AT&amp;T's president of wireless network services, revealed in an interview with Reuters that the carrier is working to upgrade its 3G network to HSUPA over the next few months. HSUPA will increase the network's upload speeds dramatically, offering up to 500-800kbps. Currently the AT&amp;T 3G network runs HSDPA, which has upload speeds of only 120kbps. The HSUPA upgrade will not affect the download speeds that customers already experience with HSDPA devices. Burns explained AT&amp;T is implementing the upgrade due to increased demand for upload bandwidth, as more and more consumers are uploading media from their mobile devices to personal blogs and sites like MySpace and YouTube, among others. Existing UMTS and HSDPA 3G devices will not be able to utilize this upgrade, but the carrier plans to launch new devices that will take advantage of this network update.&quot;</p></span></em><span id="intelliTxt"><br /><p><img border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1191600808.usr8.jpg" alt="" /></p><br /><span id="intelliTxt"><p>While I always welcome an update, especially one that might not cost me anything, I have never really had a problem with HSDPA uploading speeds on AT&amp;T's network. Hopefully AT&amp;T extends it's current 3G network to blanket more of the United States instead of just making it faster. With all of the recent traveling I have been doing, it is almost painful when I have to jump down to the current EDGE network. Doing anything on it takes forever!<br /></p></span></span>

[mpaquette]

Hey at&t! How about giving us the promised WM6 upgrade for the Blackjack already? Faster upload speeds may be great and all, but we've been waiting for a while on this WM6 upgrade.

[Hyer]

I'd be happy if EDGE in Denver was running at more than 32kbit/sec, am I asking too much!

[Mike Temporale]

Having recently switched back to an EDGE device, I can easily say that speed is good. It's good to see AT&T uping the speed of their network. It's good for everyone - except those with EDGE only devices. :(

[nutzareus]

Would be better if they expanded 3G coverage first! Why attempt to sprint when you can't even walk?!

[Rocco Augusto]

Having recently switched back to an EDGE device, I can easily say that speed is good. It's good to see AT&T uping the speed of their network. It's good for everyone - except those with EDGE only devices. :(

or those that do not live in a 3G market. ;)

granted, setting up a brand new nation wide network here takes time but there are a surprising amount of major cities here in the US where 3G data speeds are nowhere in site. it's baffling.

[jfreiman]

I don't have a 3G device yet, but when I do it will likely (not a requirnment) have a forward facing camera for video confrencing.

If that feature is to work well, I would expect upload speeds to be an important factor.

It think AT&T is doing this correctly. Bring the current level of 3G speeds up where you already have it, and expand at the same time into other markets.

-John

[SassKwatch]

granted, setting up a brand new nation wide network here takes time but there are a surprising amount of major cities here in the US where 3G data speeds are nowhere in site. it's baffling.

Not so baffling. I live within 15 miles of a large metro area, and my only option for broadband service on the *desktop* is satellite service. No dsl, no cable internet....nada.

I think there is more demand for broadband services on any/all platforms than any single provider is able to supply.

[maxnix]

HSPDA is fine if you are in one of the ~20 metro areas that offer it, but SOL if on the fringes or not there.

EVDO has them beat in total coverage area by quite a large margin. And faster upload speeds for now.