AT&T Catching Up With Expanded 3G Network (NewsFactor)

AT&T is expanding its 3G footprint. The telecommunications giant announced Wednesday an expansion of its third-generation wireless broadband service to more than 80 cities in the U.S. before the end of this year.

The rollout will mean AT&Ts 3G service will be available in about 350 markets in the U.S., including the top 100 cities, and will add more than 1,500 cell sites.

HSUPA NETWORK

AT&T said its 3G service will deliver downlink speeds between 600 and 1400 kbps. Previously, the announced downlink speed for its BroadbandConnect 3G network, as described on the AT&T Web site, has been 400 to 700 kbps, with bursts up to 1 megabit per second.

The company also announced that it will complete its High Speed Uplink Packet Access network by the middle of this year, and, for users with laptops that can receive HSUPA data, uplink speeds of 500 to 800 kbps will be available.

Ralph de la Vega, CEO and president of the wireless unit, emphasized the importance of speed in supporting the growing expectations of mobile users. He called it the foundation of a range of new and emerging applications, "including everything from social networking to sending live video and large business files."

He added that the expansion of 3G establishes "a clear path to a 4G network." AT&T said the addition of HSUPA will complete the transition of its 3G network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards. The expansion, it said, "is the only full transition by any wireless provider in the United States to this latest generation of wireless broadband capabilities."

AT&T noted that its network supports customers in much of the world, with Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications available in nearly 200 countries, accounting for nearly 90 percent of the globe.

CATCHES THEM UP

Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said that "the only thing surprising about this expansion is that it took them so long."

Greengart added that AT&Ts 3G network has not been as broad as those of Verizon Wireless or Sprint Nextel, and "this catches them up."

The company was criticized during the highly publicized launch of Apples iPhone, for which AT&T is the exclusive carrier in the U.S. For data, the iPhone currently uses EDGE technology, or Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, which has slower download rates than full 3G service. The iPhone also uses any available Wi-Fi network.

Apple is expected to release a 3G phone before the end of this year.