iOS Devices

AT&T adding new spectrum to help with high iPhone data usage in NY, SF

9to5 Staff | Jun 23 2009 - 10:27 pm PT

Poor iPhone data coverage in big cities has been one of the major gripes against the iPhone and specifically against its sole US carrier, AT&T. According to AT&T spokesman, Mark Siegel (via Gearlog), they’re doing three major things to improve their coverage and speeds, some of which will have a huge positive effect on coverage in cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"3G on 850 Mhz."

In busy cities, some dropped calls and signal problems come because the 1900 Mhz airwaves that AT&T mostly uses for 3G are totally saturated – they’re trying to cram too many iPhones into too little space. Across much of the country, though, AT&T also owns big blocks of spectrum in the older 850 band, which was once used for AT&T and its predecessors’ older TDMA service. Verizon Wireless is the other big 850 Mhz carrier. AT&T has been refitting their 850 Mhz equipment for 3G. As 3G 850 comes on throughout the rest of this year, the effect will be like going from having 100 people crammed into a conference room, to having the same population in a spacious ballroom.

AT&T is rolling out the 3G on 850 MHz over the next few months and, according to Siegel, "The 850, when it’s turned on in individual markets, people notice a big difference."

850Mhz connections are better at penetrating buildings but can’t travel as far as 1900MHz.

AT&T already announced its other two initiatives which are improving the line speed to the cell towers by installing fiber and also upgrading the networks to the double speed 7.2 Mbs HSDPA+ equipment. AT&T has a private 7.2Mbs network running in Chicago that isn’t yet visible by their customers.

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