SCIENCE

AT&T has announced the completion of a key initiative in its ongoing efforts to enhance the wireless capacity and performance of its 3G mobile broadband network throughout the Rochester area. As a result of this upgrade, local customers are expected to experience improved 3G wireless voice and data connectivity and performance, especially during peak hours.

The network enhancement adds new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase 3G capacity at local cell sites. The expansion helps manage ever-growing demand for mobile broadband services by allocating more network resources for AT&T's 3G network.

"Demand for wireless bandwidth is growing rapidly, whether it's for sharing video and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or keeping your business mobile with a smartphone, netbook or other on-the-go devices," said Robert Holliday, vice president and general manager, AT&T upstate New York. "As part of the Rochester community, we're always looking for new opportunities to provide an enhanced customer experience and our continued investment in the local wireless network is just one way to accomplish this."  

"Delivering dependable wireless coverage for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected is our ultimate objective," said Hal Lenox, president, AT&T New York. "Our ongoing investments in this critical part of the state will help us ensure that our customers have access to the wireless services that help drive economic growth."

Wireless data traffic on the AT&T network has grown more than 5,000 percent over the past three years, largely due to the increasing popularity of advanced smartphones and the performance of AT&T's 3G network. AT&T has the nation's fastest mobile broadband network.  

The expansion of spectrum for 3G use is one of many ongoing network initiatives planned to enhance coverage and capacity across the country. AT&T recently upgraded 3G cell sites nationwide to High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2. Future plans include another upgrade to HSPA+ technology at the end of this year followed by the initial deployment next year of LTE, the next-generation of wireless technology. These advancements, when combined with an ongoing initiative to increase the number of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, are a part of AT&T's strategy to provide customers with an enhanced mobile broadband experience, both today and in the future.

AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T has the best international coverage of any U.S. wireless provider, providing access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in 200 countries. AT&T also offers voice and data roaming coverage on more than 140 major cruise ships, as well as 3G services in more than 125 countries.

AT&T also owns and operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 23,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 125,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. Most AT&T smartphone customers get access to our U.S. Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn't count against customers' monthly data plans.