AT&T Says NYC Network Upgrades Are Complete

AT&T has announced the completion of an initiative to increase the wireless capacity of its 3G network in NYC. The company says customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens should notice improved voice and data connections and performance, especially during peak hours.

The network enhancement includes the addition of new layers of frequency, also known as "carriers," to more efficiently manage available spectrum and increase 3G capacity. The additions have been applied to nearly all cell sites in Manhattan and in other areas as needed throughout the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. The result is an increased allocation of network resources for AT&T's 3G network to support ever-growing demand for mobile broadband services.

AT&T also deployed a WiFi hot zone in Times Square to help AT&T customers stay connected in "America's Crossroads," one of the busiest locations in the world.


In New York City, they added a layer of high-performing 850 MHz spectrum to deploy more radio capacity and enhance in-building coverage throughout the city.

As of the first quarter of 2010, there have been two consecutive quarters of strong voice quality improvements in New York according to internal measurements. In Manhattan, quality improved 47 percent quarter over quarter.

Faster 3G speeds are scheduled to become available this year and in 2011 on a market by market basis as AT&T combines the new technology with the increased deployment of high-speed backhaul connections to cell sites, primarily with fiber-optic technology. Late this year, they plan to upgrade the network to HSPA+, the latest generation of their 3G platform.

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