AT&T announced it will be ramping up it’s 3G service bringing higher speeds to six major cities. The upgraded network will support High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology with peak speeds of 7.2Mbps, nearly twice as fast as current speeds.
AT&T says they plan 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. 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 by the end of 2011.
The upgraded network platform allows for theoretical peak speeds of 7.2Mbps. Typical real-world performance experienced by customers will likely vary based on a number of factors, including location, device, and overall traffic on the local wireless network at a given time.
AT&T is also planning several new devices which will support the new technology. They expect to have six HSPA 7.2-compatible smartphones in their portfolio by the end of the year.
