AT&T has announced it deployed an upgraded High-Speed Packet Access or “HSPA” 7.2 technology across cell sites nationwide to provide what company officials say is “the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds.”

Company officials also said the deployment of the new 3G technology is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T's (News - Alert) network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with the best possible mobile broadband experience.

With HSPA 7.2, a better overall customer experience will be offered through improved consistency in accessing data sessions as well as preparing the network for faster speeds and increased network efficiency.

The new technology will be combined with enhanced cell site backhaul connections over the course of 2010 and 2011.  This combination supports theoretical peak maximum speeds of 7.2 megabits per second.

AT&T is in the midst of this second initiative to dramatically increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic connections, adding capacity from cell sites to the AT&T backbone network.  

Initial deployment of the backhaul is in progress in the six U.S. cities announced in 2009 as initial HSPA 7.2 markets – Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami.  Deployments in other markets will begin soon.

The company anticipates that the majority of AT&T’s mobile data traffic will be carried over the expanded fiber-based, HSPA 7.2-capable backhaul by the end of this year, with deployment continuing to expand in 2011.

The new backhaul will provide AT&T 3G wireless customers with enhanced mobile broadband capacity, and increased speeds in their HSPA 7.2-compatible devices.  AT&T offers a total of 10 HSPA 7.2-compatible devices today, including the iPhone (News - Alert) 3G S. The company said it also plans to introduce more this year.  

Industry experts say backhaul upgrades are also a key step in the evolution toward next-generation Long Term Evolution or “LTE (News - Alert)” mobile broadband technology.  AT&T’s backhaul deployments can accommodate both faster 3G and future LTE deployments.

 

AT&T also announced plans to begin trials of LTE technology this year, and begin LTE deployment in 2011.

“Even as we look forward to LTE, 3G will be the predominant mobile broadband network technology worldwide for smartphones for the next few years,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations.  “AT&T's strategy will deliver faster 3G speeds over the next two years, while also allowing us to build the foundation for the LTE future.”