AfterDawn: News

AT&T should be able to improve wireless network by end of summer

AT&T has said this week that all equipment-supply constraints it has for its data network updates should end by August.

Says Operations CEO John Stankey: "It's been a slow process to build capacity...Hopefully, it should be back to normal," after the summer.



AT&T has been actively trying to improve its coverage in key markets in New York and California, but says a lack of cellular radio components and zoning issues has led to a very slow effort in the regions.

The constraint issue has "bottomed" says Stankey, and should improve from here.

For New York at least, dropped calls for consumers using 3G fell 9 percent, but in California, progress has "lagged."

Supply issues have come mainly from Chinese component makers, which was compounded last month by the volcano eruption in Iceland that shut down flights for a number of days.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 May 2010 17:07

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• 3 comments

• KillerBug

  Verizon does not seem to have the slightest problems building towers in the same area, and they don't seem to have trouble getting equipment. The AT&T network has been crippled by overload for years, and they have always claimed that the problem will be fixed in a few months.

  16.5.2010 10:00 #1

• DavGerm4

  Well I hope this issue is fixed soon! We moved from Sprint to AT&T, and so far, I'm kind of disappointed... I mean how can I be on campus and get some to no bars, but when in the middle of nowhere I get full bars! It's screwed up here!
  

  
  
  
  Please dont message me on Xbox Live about modding! I will not respond to them! Just ask here! Besides, Im banned, and not coming back anytime soon...

  16.5.2010 20:34 #2

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by DavGerm4: Well I hope this issue is fixed soon! We moved from Sprint to AT&T, and so far, I'm kind of disappointed... I mean how can I be on campus and get some to no bars, but when in the middle of nowhere I get full bars! It's screwed up here! Simple...
  
  AT&T just wants to have full geographical coverage. They get a map, put a dot down for each tower, and draw a circle around each dot to represent the coverage area. Then they try to get as much area covered as possible without exceding the expansion budget from 1992.
  
  The problem with that is that while a farmer in Idaho gets a whole tower to himself, 10,000 city users all have to share one tower with a 5,000 user limit.
  
  That is why their commercial had post cards to represent coverage...because that is how AT&T thinks..."as long as they are under the postcard, they are covered...who cares if we only have two post cards for all of new york city?"

  17.5.2010 02:28 #3