AT&T Gives Us The News We’ve Been Waiting For

AT&T finally announced on Wednesday its plans for upgrading its current 3G network, as well as details and plans for its 4G network, planned for release in 2011. The 3G upgrade comes with a hefty price tag of $17 billion, but looks like its worth the money.

It will implement AT&T’s HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) 7.2, which could give speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, double the current speed. Along with increased speed, 2,100 new cell sites will be built, and current cells will now be connected on a fiber optic backbone for support of the increased speed, providing additional connections from each site to the global network. An 850 Hz frequency spectrum will increase capacity and improve coverage, especially inside of buildings. AT&T smart phones (that means you, iPhone) will also now be able to switch more easily between the AT&T’s Wi-Fi network, the largest in the nation, and the 3G network.

AT&T’s Long Term Evolution (LTE) network will also be implemented by 2011, according to the press release. This 4G network will soon become a global standard, as Verizon Wireless has already announced plans to switch over in the near future. As more and more devices become 4G capable, the upgrade to this network will be of critical importance.

While AT&T doesn’t exactly have a stellar reputation right now (face it, your friends at AT&T can’t brag about anything except the iPhone), they are hoping to capitalize on their exclusive relationship with Apple, and this 4G network might just do it for them. I hope it’s not too little too late.