AT&T (Sort Of) Admits To iPhone Network Strain - Hopes that 7.2Mbps upgrades will help ease the pain...

AT&T (Sort Of) Admits To iPhone Network Strain
Hopes that 7.2Mbps upgrades will help ease the pain...
04:27PM Thursday May 28 2009 by Karl Bode
tags: business · wireless · bandwidth
Tipped by tmpchaos

Yesterday we noted how AT&T was upgrading their wireless broadband network to deliver maximum theoretical downstream speeds of 7.2Mbps. That should please users who've complained of capacity issues and clogged local networks. AT&T's announcement yesterday was accompanied by vague admissions that AT&T wasn't entirely prepared for the bandwidth demand of the iPhone. CEO Randall Stephenson does the CEO two-step, admitting and denying problems in the same breath to Dow Jones Newswires.

With a supposedly video-centric iPhone set for launch in June or July, AT&T is busy convincing the public (and Apple) they're trying to get out ahead of demand. After the HSPA 7.2 upgrade, which AT&T scheduled for "later this year," AT&T can move on to the evolved-HSPA (HSPA+) upgrade, which should approach 20Mbps. The carrier then expects to begin testing LTE technology in 2010.

Unlike the bogus bandwidth crunch claims surrounding terrestrial networks (used as a PR weapon to lobby for less regulation lest the Internet explode), research shows that there is explosive growth on wireless broadband networks. Backhaul bandwidth is also a pressing issue, which is why AT&T says they're doubling the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in major metro markets, while adding thousands of new cell site backhaul connections.

Consider too that this level of demand is with 42% of iPhone application traffic being routed over Wi-Fi and AT&T prohibiting the use of applications like Skype or Slingbox via 3G. Data from Opera also suggests that mobile data consumption could be as much as ten times greater if not for compression. Can AT&T's network handle the strain of video from the next iPhone when they had so much trouble with the last one? Stay tuned...

Rogers Offers 21 Mbps Wireless Broadband

Cricket Unveils New Voice, Data Plans

Sprint 4G And Clearwire Arrives in Chicago

Verizon Promises Droid Won't Strain Network

Comcast Launches Wireless Broadband In Philly

Verizon: Droid Tethering Will Cost $30 Extra

Verizon Offers New Prepaid Wireless Broadband Plans

T-Mobile 7.2 Mbps Upgrades Arriving?

Forums » AT&T (Sort Of) Admits To iPhone Network Strain


	view: topics flat text	Post a:

Bit Premium join:2009-02-19 00000 ·VOIPo ·Cox HSI 1 edit	What strain? What is true in one area, obviously isn't true in all. Localized congestion issues happen with providers of every ilk, whether cellular, cable, WISP, whatever. IOW, it isn't a systemic plague with just AT&T. -- POKE 65495,1
	permalink · 2009-05-28 16:02:57 ·

uid1307457 Premium join:2005-12-30 Tempe, AZ ·Qwest.net ·Convergent Interne.. ·DIRECTV	Re: What strain? said by Bit : What is true in one area, obviously isn't true in all. Localized congestion issues happen with providers of every ilk, whether cellular, cable, WISP, whatever. IOW, it isn't a systemic plague with just AT&T. so true -- I will grammar police you.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 16:19:17 · Print ·

dslhater
Premium
join:2001-09-24
Chicopee, MA
clubs:

1 edit

Speed Test

That is so true. When I was in Chicago the network was unusable. In the area of massachusetts where I am at I always get excellent coverage & good speeds.
--
dream your dreams with open eyes and make them come true...

permalink · 2009-05-28 16:33:09 · Print ·

patrickp Patrick join:2002-05-03 Bloomington, IL	Re: What strain? same here in central IL their AT&T wireless is pretty darn fast and I've never seen congestion least not here..Patrick.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 17:03:33 ·

Matt Gone playing Dragon Age Origins Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC ·North State Commun..	said by Bit : What is true in one area, obviously isn't true in all. Localized congestion issues happen with providers of every ilk, whether cellular, cable, WISP, whatever. IOW, it isn't a systemic plague with just AT&T. Correct, but in most areas it is overstrained and under provisioned. Nice test btw, I rarely see more than 1Mbps down and 100Kbps up.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 16:47:41 · Print ·

Bit Premium join:2009-02-19 00000	Re: What strain? Conjecture. You don't know anything about "most areas" one way or another. -- POKE 65495,1
	permalink · 2009-05-28 17:20:20 ·

Matt Gone playing Dragon Age Origins Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC ·North State Commun..	Re: What strain? said by Bit : Conjecture. You don't know anything about "most areas" one way or another. I could say the exact same thing about your single test if you really want to get snippy? Go read Howard Forums or any other cell phone oriented site. Most AT&T areas suffer from oversubscription and as a result, low speeds.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 17:49:21 ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

1 edit

Re: What strain?

Except read my OP, I didn't make unfounded claims about "most areas" as you did. It is a pattern with you, just manufacturing statistics as you go.

Instead of spouting conjecture, provide proof that most AT&T 3G service areas suffer from over subscription and low speeds. Forum postings don't mean crap...my your logic most FiOS areas suffer speed problems because I can find people complaining about FiOS issues.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-05-28 18:03:17 ·

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

·North State Commun..

Re: What strain?

said by Bit

:

Except read my OP, I didn't make unfounded claims about "most areas" as you did. It is a pattern with you, just manufacturing statistics as you go.

Instead of spouting conjecture, provide proof that most AT&T 3G service areas suffer from over subscription and low speeds. Forum postings don't mean crap...my your logic most FiOS areas suffer speed problems because I can find people complaining about FiOS issues.

Is it? So I am manufacturing statistics that the CEO of AT&T (did you even read the article?) agrees with? The title of the linked article is "AT&T: Smartphones are Choking Networks".

I suppose that's not proof and is just another unfounded claim though isn't it?

permalink · 2009-05-28 18:14:10 · Print ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

4 edits

Re: What strain?

Engadget saw the same AT&T speeds I do

Yes, you are manufacturing statistics. You have no clue whether or not most AT&T service areas are over subscribed and offering low speeds. You made it up.

Meanwhile where did AT&T's CEO say that over half his network area is oversubscribed and offering slow speeds?

The only thing even remotely close was his comment about "U.S. wireless networks", not just AT&T and said NOTHING about any crush affecting over 1/2 the AT&T network footprint. The point of his speech is that AT&T is "getting ahead" of any coming smart phone crunch with the 4G upgrades. »www.smartmoney.com/breaking-news···800-1428 In fact the CEO said the #1 cause of churn is network quality and it was stated that AT&T has near the lowest churn in the industry over the last quarter.

Engaget did a shootout between the major 3G carriers just recently »Comparing 3G Data Card Service Across Carriers and they saw AT&T as the fastest provider. But even then that is just their experience as they imply in their artcle. They didn't go to every market and every street corner testing these services. No one can make a broad statement about the performance of these networks like you did.

Karl summed it up perfectly in his write up, just because you have a bunch of people saying the service is fast, and another bunch saying it is slow, doesn't mean crap and you can't draw conclusions about network performance from these testimonials.

said by Karl :
These types of comparisons are sketchy given service not only varies from town to town but often block to block...

So I ask again, where is your proof that most of the AT&T service area is suffering slow speeds and is over subscribed.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-05-28 18:21:33 · Print ·

theeinstein Premium join:2003-07-31 Fernandina Beach, FL	Re: What strain? Blah Blah... The fact of the matter is that the CEO of AT&T confessed to SOME issues.... reveals the notion that more than SOME issues exist!! Dont be naive to the fact that the CEO of a major telecom is just gonna jump out that and be HONEST... PLEASE...Over subscription and under provisioning exists.... in MAJOR markets or the CEO wouldn't say a word!!
	permalink · 2009-05-29 09:06:07 ·

Bit Premium join:2009-02-19 00000	Re: What strain? Blah blah, prove it. -- POKE 65495,1
	permalink · 2009-05-29 12:29:31 ·

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

·North State Commun..

Re: What strain?

said by Bit

:

Blah blah, prove it.

You ask for proof, but refuse to accept the thousands of people reporting problems in various forums with AT&T but not with other carriers, especially not with EVDO carriers. I'm curious as to what kind of proof would satisfy you?

How about a study from Wired.com that blames the AT&T network, not the 3G iPhone for the iPhone problems? »www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/08/···phone-3/

In case you don't want to read the link, the AT&T network in a Nationwide poll of 1600 iPhone users had an average speed of 990Kbps, poor signal quality, and the most 0 results (dropped connections) than any other provider minus Australia.

Then there is always the AT&T CTO's interview with Gizmodo where he admits the AT&T network has problems and "that initially meeting the voice quality and data rates of Sprint’s 3G network would have been both technically and financially impossible, despite the customer benefit."

»gizmodo.com/5041382/atts-interna···-network

But that's not "proof" that there is a problem right?

permalink · 2009-05-29 14:16:44 · Print ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

1 edit

Re: What strain?

Blah blah blah. Every provider has complainers, it doesn't mean crap, it especially isn't proof of your 1/2 the network is slow claim that you pulled out of your ass.

You said 1/2 the network is suffering slow speeds and is over subscribed. You have ZERO proof this is the case an AT&T's CEO said nothing of the kind.

You can continue manufacturing proof or posting links to stories and quotes which don't support in any way your 1/2 the network is slow claim all ya want.

Meanwhile Engadget showed AT&T to be the fastest network in their testing. None of this proves anything.

Knock off with the conjecture.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-05-29 14:32:43 · Print ·

Matt Gone playing Dragon Age Origins Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC	Re: What strain? You are either blind or just obtuse. I think you need to read that link again without the rose colored glasses.
	permalink · 2009-05-29 15:11:36 ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

2 edits

Re: What strain?

No, you just have a history of making shit up like your unfounded claim that most of AT&T's wireless network is suffering slow speeds and is oversold. I can find isolated instances of issues with EVERY provider and it isn't limited to wireless. A few complainers in a forum, or a general statement about getting ahead of smartphone congestion does not in any way conform your claim that most of the network sees slow speeds.

If forums whining was the end all measure of network performance, Comcast would be bottom of the barrel in terms of speeds, but we see from speedtest results that that is hardly the case. It is human nature to be more vocal about complaints than praise, making assumptions based on forum browsing beyond worthless and invalid.

IOW, you push your conjecture as fact.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-05-29 15:19:12 · Print ·

Matt
Gone playing Dragon Age Origins
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

·North State Commun..

Re: What strain?

I've provided ample proof of a widespread problem with the AT&T network, the CEO admits as much, the CTO admits as much, and a Wired.com nationwide test shows that the average speeds are precisely where I stated they were, under 1Mbps. All you've provided are baseless insults and personal attacks.

When you're ready to have an adult discussion instead of attacking my history at this site and anyone else who doesn't agree with your viewpoint, let me know.

permalink · 2009-05-29 16:35:51 ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

1 edit

Re: What strain?

You haven't proved anything except show that some users have had issues just as every provider hass. You can keep repeating your unfounded claims until you are blue in the face, the CEO and CTO didn't say ANYTHING, not a single word supporting your claim that "most" of the AT&T network is oversold and suffering slow speeds. You pulled that statistic out of your ass just as you always do.

What the CTO said, and all he said was that the coming 4G networks

said by CTO Donnovan :
gets us out in front of where we think (network usage) is going to be

Not a single word supporting your bullshit about most of AT&T's network being slow.

CEO Stephenson also said not a word about AT&T's network.

What he said was that U.S. WIRELESS networks aren't prepared for smartphone traffic that is already beginning to affect the networks.

U.S. Wireless networks, not just AT&T, and BEGINNING to affect the networks, not having MOST of AT&T's network suffering slow speeds as you claim.

The statements by the CTO nor CEO don't come close to "proving" anything you have said to be correct. Nor do random forum comments.

Meanwhile that Wired "study" you quote says that AT&T's average US 3G speeds was 1Mb...certainly not "slow" by any measure. The Wired study if anything, proves you are full of it. Engadget's limited tests also shows excellent speeds on AT&T's service, faster than all the others they tested.

The CEO's quotes don't back you up, the CTO's quotes don't back you up, Wired.com's study that you post disproves your unsubstantiated claims of slow overall speed.

You pulled that "most" stat out of your ass just as you always do.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-05-29 17:46:00 · Print ·

theeinstein Premium join:2003-07-31 Fernandina Beach, FL	Re: What strain? Dude you have got to be retarded.... Corporate America doesn't admit things.. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.. if they do admit something IT IS worse than they lead on that it is.. So be a big boy and read the writing on the wall!!
	permalink · 2009-05-30 17:42:19 ·

Bit Premium join:2009-02-19 00000	Re: What strain? Blah blah blah, show us the proof backing up the bullshit conjecture. -- POKE 65495,1
	permalink · 2009-05-30 19:02:41 ·

theeinstein Premium join:2003-07-31 Fernandina Beach, FL	Re: What strain? Dude do you not read English... proof is in the mouth of the freaking CEO... I swear I feel like Im talking to my wife!
	permalink · 2009-06-01 00:22:45 ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

2 edits

Re: What strain?

Dude, do you not read English? The CEO said nothing of the kind and neither did the CTO. The only thing he even remotely alluded to was a possible coming smartphone crunch that is BEGINNING to effect US WIRLESS NETWORKS (not just AT&T) which for AT&T, coming 4G deployment keeps them ahead of it (according to the CTO) which means they aren't behind it.

Not a word about 1/2 their network being slow as was claimed by Matt. Matt pulled the 1/2 the network stat out of his ass just as he always does expecting no one to question his endless conjecture.
--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-06-01 08:30:56 · Print ·

theeinstein Premium join:2003-07-31 Fernandina Beach, FL	Re: What strain? Well lets discuss the N-SET routine being implemented to offload unneeded 3g calls to the 2g network on all phones except iphone and bberyy... This is in direct correlation to the recent overload "rumors"
	permalink · 2009-06-01 09:06:05 ·

Bit
Premium
join:2009-02-19
00000

·VOIPo

·Cox HSI

4 edits

Re: What strain?

Blah blah blah, it does not prove "most" of the network is seeing slow speeds as Matt

claimed. Period.

Comcast uses traffic management techniques too, but it is certainly not proof that "most" of their network is running slow. And nothing the CEO or CTO has said even remotely supports the claim that most of their network is seeing slow speeds.

And while obviously some examples can be seen of slower than optimal speed, the same can be said about ANY provider, wireless or otherwise and in no way even begins to speak to the extent of any issues that exist. It certainly doesn't provide evidence to a point in which is could be said with even remote certainty that "most" of the network sees slow speeds.

Matt

pull the stat out of his ass, plain and simple and this isn't the first time he has attempted to present his conjecture as fact.

--
POKE 65495,1

permalink · 2009-06-01 11:12:01 · Print ·

Nerdtalker Working Hard, Or Hardly Working? Premium,MVM join:2003-02-18 Tucson, AZ clubs:	Oh yeah?
	permalink · 2009-05-29 03:50:14 ·

Bit Premium join:2009-02-19 00000	Re: What strain? I send lots of email attachments and use VPN moving files up and down so I personally would rather keep by 2X faster upload than get less than 50% faster download. -- POKE 65495,1
	permalink · 2009-05-29 07:28:03 ·

Matt Gone playing Dragon Age Origins Premium join:2003-07-20 Jamestown, NC ·North State Commun..	said by Nerdtalker : Oh yeah? Beat this!
	permalink · 2009-05-29 09:24:10 · Print ·

Chaldo join:2008-03-18 West Bloomfield, MI	Hopefully this Fixes a lot. I notice some strain in the area I am, Highly populated area with people either using att or verizon wireless as there carrier. So this should help.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 16:19:55 ·

PhoenixDown -- Wants FIOS Premium join:2003-06-08 Fresh Meadows, NY clubs:	I'm surprised Apple didn't become an reseller of different providers and had the phone switch to the best provider in the users area. It would take some interesting writting but im sure it could have happened. -- ~ Insert a Funny Sig Here ~
	permalink · 2009-05-28 16:46:40 ·

djrobx

join:2000-05-31
Valencia, CA

·PHONE POWER

Unprepared?

Seems to me the iPhone has just forced AT&T to do the right thing. Prior to the iPhone 3G, the 3G around here was absolutely atricious. If I wanted to use data, I'd usually have to force my Blackjack into 3G mode because the phone seemed to always default to Edge. But if I wanted to make voice calls I'd have to force Edge, because any 3G hand-off would result in a dropped call.

Enter the iPhone 3G. Suddenly everyone with their new iPhones got in an uproar about the problems I'd been having on my Blackjack for over a year. Whatever's been done, it's a night and day difference. My 3G works pretty darn good now and I generally don't need to mess with it.

The wide scale capacity upgrades sound like a nice step in the right direction. I just hope they focus on adding more towers. There are still some embarassing dead zones in the LA area.
--
AT&T U-Hearse
Your funeral. Delivered.

permalink · 2009-05-28 16:56:13 · Print ·

bemis

join:2008-07-18
Stoneham, MA

·Sprint Mobile Broa..

·Verizon FIOS

·Comcast

·RCN CABLE

Re: Unprepared?

said by djrobx

:

Seems to me the iPhone has just forced AT&T to do the right thing. Prior to the iPhone 3G, the 3G around here was absolutely atricious. If I wanted to use data, I'd usually have to force my Blackjack into 3G mode because the phone seemed to always default to Edge. But if I wanted to make voice calls I'd have to force Edge, because any 3G hand-off would result in a dropped call.

Agreed--this is the #1 reason I switched to Verizon when my contract w/ AT&T ended in 2006.

In 2006 at the end of my contract I bought an LG CU500 3G phone from AT&T because I wanted faster MMS uploads, but I quickly found that I often couldn't hold a conversation while moving in a car, bus, train, whatever because the phone would constantly drop calls in 3G to 2G hand off's and back.

I ended up switching to VZ and it has never had an issue with hand off's

I still have AT&T for work, but it's a 2G BlackBerry Edge.

Friends of mine w/ the iPhone 3G say that the hand off isn't an issue any more, so now that I'm several month of contract w/ VZ I'm waiting for the next gen iPhone to arrive before I make a decision to either stick w/ VZ or go for the new iPhone.

permalink · 2009-05-28 17:36:07 · Print ·

pnh102 Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty Premium join:2002-05-02 Mount Airy, MD	I agree totally. AT&T has upgraded most of Maryland and other places to 3G. I like now being able to use our phones in my basement now! -- Blagojevich / Madoff 2012!
	permalink · 2009-05-29 08:19:56 ·

pspcrazy
Anime Freak

join:2008-02-06
San Diego, CA

·DSL EXTREME

1 edit

So which card should i buy to support these speeds?

I'm currently ordered the server from ATT, and I need to know which card/usb i should buy to support these speeds, and possibly the future + speeds. Being locked into a 2 year contract with one of the older cards would suck.

I'm fine with Express cards or USB cards. Just wondering which one's allow maximum speed. Any quick replies would be awesome.

Thanks for any help!
--
My Anime Site - AnimeCrazy.net

permalink · 2009-05-28 17:23:37 ·

See 6 replies to this post

hayabusa3303 Over 200 mph Premium join:2005-06-29 clubs:	Nothing new Phones have exceed what the towers and back end can handle.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 17:56:32 ·

en102 Canadian, eh? join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA	Re: Nothing new More specifically - user devices are consuming the all spectrum for data.
	permalink · 2009-05-28 19:07:46 ·

Mike_

join:2003-06-24
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Yep speed is sweet

Decent speed, quite consistently. With their upgrades, I'd like to see a better upstream atleast. Down should improve. Fiber backhaul is a must! get rid of old copper connects..
--
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Unless you know what you're doing.

permalink · 2009-05-28 21:15:14 · Print ·

xlimitx join:2001-12-31 Wilkes Barre, PA ·ProLog	Less bars in more places. I'd honestly be happy if I could just get better phone service instead of better data service. I'm not sure of what's going on recently in Northeast PA, but something has been causing very intermittent phone service on both my wife's and my own iPhones.
	permalink · 2009-05-29 09:22:51 ·

axiomatic

join:2006-08-23
Tomball, TX

Apple is the dumbass actually.

AT&T is just greedy and not upgrading their network effectively, but the real problem is Apple. They were completely stupid to allow exclusivity of iphone to AT&T.

Were I am Apple shareholder I would be complaining about this loudly at every shareholder meeting screaming "release the profits! Open up iphone to other carriers!"

Conversely, just think how much more money AT&T would have to upgrade their networks if they were not paying Apple for the exclusivity?

permalink · 2009-05-29 11:35:45 ·

your comment..

Forums » AT&T (Sort Of) Admits To iPhone Network Strain


Sunday, 08-Nov 02:13:56	Terms of Use \| Privacy Policy \| Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo \| feedback \| contact over 10 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.

What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Re: What strain?

Hopefully this Fixes a lot.

I'm surprised Apple didn't become an reseller

Unprepared?

Re: Unprepared?

So which card should i buy to support these speeds?

Nothing new

Re: Nothing new

Yep speed is sweet

Less bars in more places.

Apple is the dumbass actually.