AT&T will deploy HSPA 7.2 technology in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Miami, with initial service availability expected in these markets by the end of the year. It plans on rolling HSPA 7.2 out to 25 of the nation’s 30 largest markets by the end of 2010 and reach about 90% of its existing 3G network footprint with HSPA 7.2 by the end of 2011.

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The company will add more backhaul capacity to cell sites to support growing data traffic and the future demands of 4G networks. According to AT&T, these improvements will provide a considerable speed boost to what it calls the nation’s fastest 3G mobile broadband network. The upgraded network platform allows for a theoretical peak speed of 7.2 Mbits/s, though typical real-world downlink and uplink speeds will vary.

AT&T expects to include six HSPA 7.2-compatible smart phones in its device portfolio by the end of the year as well as two new LaptopConnect cards. The additional wireless backhaul, which will include thousands of new connections this year, will support HSPA 7.2 in addition to 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), which AT&T plans to begin trialing in 2010 and deploying in 2011.  

“With HSPA 7.2, we’re making the nation’s fastest 3G network even faster, and we’ll be able to deploy this technology before LTE networks, devices, and equipment grow to scale,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T operations. “Even as we look forward to LTE, we know that 3G will be the predominant mobile broadband network technology worldwide for smart phones for the next few years.”

According to AT&T, its wireless traffic has quadrupled over the past year. In response, the company plans on investing between $17 billion and $18 billion, with more than two-thirds of that total going toward broadband and wireless. Its deployment of HSPA 7.2 and additional backhaul connections are key to this network enhancement strategy, along with other plans.

For example, AT&T will expand the wireless spectrum serving 3G customers in hundreds of markets with 850-MHz spectrum, which will increase overall network capacity and improve in-building reception. Deployments of the 850-MHz spectrum are about 90% complete, with local rollouts recently finished in New York, Atlanta, and Houston.

AT&T also will add about 2000 new cell cites to its network in 2009, expanding service to new cities and improving coverage in other areas. The company’s plans will enable widespread access to its Wi-Fi network as well, which boasts more than 20,000 hotspots in all 50 states, to qualifying customers. And, it will prepare for field trials of 4G LTE wireless networks next year, with deployment planned for 2011.