UPDATE, 5/27/09: Thanks for the comments about AT&T coverage in your neighborhood. While some readers scoff at AT&T’s upgrade, others are grateful. All of it got me thinking… is everyone getting better service or just people indoors and 3G Internet users? AT&T responded to further questions about this. See updates below in bold…
Got an iPhone? Its reception indoors and overall Internet service quality should be tons better than last year, thanks to a major upgrade by AT&T in the Orange County and Los Angeles area. If you’re an AT&T user and you haven’t noticed this, you could be out of luck.
That’s because AT&T says the upgrade is completed. It spent the past several months adding the 850 MHz spectrum to all cell sites in the area to complement the existing 1,900 MHz spectrum.
“This new spectrum adds significant capacity to the network to support ever-growing demand for 3G mobile broadband service, and provides improved in-building 3G wireless coverage for customers across the metropolitan area,” says the company.
The 850 MHz is a frequency that has been reserved for analog cell phone users since the 1980s. The newer 1900 MHz started in the 90s and is used for digital service (Sprint uses just 1900 for its all digital service). Over the years, the technology has been tweaked so service and features have improved. While most cellular carriers use both frequencies, they may use different ones depending on region. AT&T has now chosen to offer both here in parts of OC.
The main point is 850 Mhz penetrates buildings better.
AT&T isn’t alone in the upgrade. Verizon Wireless recently announced that it, too, was spending millions to upgrade its 3G service with the 850 MHz spectrum. (Read the earlier, “Verizon spends $90 million improving 3G, indoor coverage.”)
AT&T has been upgrading all cell sites in our area for the past year. According to the company, in areas that received the upgrade, there have been “significant increases in total 3G data traffic.”
The rest of the nation is expected to also get the 850 MHz boost this year.
UPDATE, May 27, 2009 @ 2:07 p.m.: AT&T responded to more questions about who actually will see better cellular service and who won’t. I’ve bolded all the new stuff below:
The 850 expansion adds more room for voice and data so customers in general should see an overall improvement everywhere, but especially indoors. Tests have also shown that Internet service is better, so more people can use the 3G Internet service.
But, says Deborah Lieberman Rapoport with AT&T, “As with all wireless communications, real-world experience will vary throughout the area.”
What else? The company continues to search for areas “where coverage isn’t optimal.” So, it’s not that those with poor service are “out of luck” forever. But just for now until the company upgrades that area. So post the locations and hopefully AT&T will take notice. As Rapoport recommends, “Any feedback provided is actually very helpful to us in our continuous network improvement.”
In the Orange County and Los Angeles area, AT&T is adding 90 cell sites this year.
Is your AT&T cell phone getting better reception indoors? Share your story by leaving a comment below.
More on cellular reception in Orange County:
More on cell-phones:
Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local cell phone services
