AT&T Outperforms Rivals in 3G Network Tests LiveScience

AT&Ts majority maligned 3G network has undergone a extreme makeover and right away ranks initial in a 13-city exam of wireless networks by PCWorld.

This is a finish turnaround for the association from last spring, when AT&T purebred the lowest normal download speeds between wireless carriers in the same test, call drawn out complaints from data-intensive iPhone users in particular.

AT&T has been at large criticized for delayed 3G download speeds and forsaken calls, generally in large cities such as New York City and San Francisco. The complaint was exacerbated by the recognition of the iPhone and othersmartphones. The incident not long ago stirred FCC officials to be concerned aloud about either Apples arriving iPad device, that will additionally be means to entrance AT&Ts 3G network, could lead to�further congestion.

3G stands for the "3rd Generation" and refers to the cellular voice and interpretation record used by all of the vital carriers. It will be supplanted by 4G networks, that guarantee true-broadband speeds on mobile devices.

On a mission

Last year, AT&T set out to progress the network performance. It commissioned hundreds of new and improved�cell towers�in cities opposite the country.

Those efforts have assumingly paid off: In the ultimate test, 3G download speeds on the network were 84 percent softened than the numbers last year, and 67 percent faster on normal than the competitors Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

Last spring, AT&T posted an normal download speed of 818 kilobits per second (kbps) opposite thirteen cities. In tests conducted by PCWorld in Dec 2009 and Jan 2010, AT&Ts normal download speed increasing to 1410 kbps, that is allied to a simple DSL Internet connection.

In New York City, AT&Ts download speeds were 3 times faster than last spring, and in San Francisco, it was 40 percent faster.

AT&Ts network trustworthiness is softened as well. Last spring, PCWorld testers were means to acquire a usable�broadband�connection usually 68 percent of the time. In the ultimate tests, the success rate was 94 percent.

The competition

PCWorld resolved that the opening of Sprints network was scarcely matching to last year, whilst Verizons download speeds were about 8 percent slower in the ultimate test.

This could prove that�Sprint�is upgrading the network genius fast sufficient to encounter demand, whilst Verizon might be carrying difficulty keeping up, according to PCWorld.

T-Mobiles 3G network, tested by PCWorld for the initial time this year, "supported download and upload speeds that were rival with Sprints and Verizons in majority of" the exam cities, PCWorld said.

For the minute report, click�here.

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