Cellular Networks – or lack of

In terms of coverage and availability, it seems like most users don’t really know, or care about the differences in networks that each carrier provides. That has recently started changing as competitive ads have target network type and network coverage. A good example is the lawsuit AT&T filed against Verizon over the “map” ads.

Recent news indicates that cellular companies, particularly AT&T are now struggling to catch up with society. Let’s take a more in-depth look at what is really out there over what cellular companies would like you to think is out there.

in 2007, Apple released it’s first iPhone. Before this release there were many “smartphones” on the market providing much of what the iPhone did at the time, linking to many online services to provide more content. But it wasn’t until the release of the iPhone that cell networks exploded by consumer frenzies. Users were consuming all forms of media on the iPhone at a staggering rate and AT&T’s 3g network choked. Why? Was it not enough towers? was AT&T just not prepared for the Apple invasion?

I can’t say I fault AT&T for being ill-equipped to handle the data usage the iPhone produced. At least not in the beginning. I do remember the lines of people standing hours at the store waiting to get their first iPhone. I’m not a fan of Apple, or any of their products, but I have to hand it to them. Their fanboy appeal seems to alter lifestyles of consumers. The trend of apple seems to sell despite their failed innovations. They don’t provide anything really new, or produce quality above any other company. It’s their logo and status appeal that gets the money.

Anyway, enough of my tangent, back to AT&T. To better understand what really happened. let’s look at the network as a whole. a Cellular networks mainframe is hooked into a channel, usually a T1 copper line that runs to their cell towers. On the towers is a transmitter that functions in the same similar fashion that a wireless router or wireless phone base unit does. Obviously without many towers in the area a device connecting to them is going to have a harder time getting a good signal, so in essence, yes AT&T failed on the iPhone release with lack of towers, but what about urban areas with good tower ratios and good connections? That boils down to the “backhaul”. As stated earlier most of AT&T’s backhaul was comprised (and still is in most areas) of T1 lines. T1 lines were not originally intended to support large amounts of data traffic that the iPhone was so obviously being used for. A t1 provides roughly 1.5Mbps (about a 1/4 – 1/2 an mp3 per second), when congested with hundreds or even thousands of users that network real estate is eaten pretty quickly and the network chokes.

Onto the problem. AT&T received exclusive rights, and still maintains those right, to the iPhone. However, they have done very little to actually resolve the problem caused by mass data use. Some cellular providers have already recognized this problem and started using fiber channels for their backhaul, which raises the bar from 1.5Mbps to anywhere from 2.5Gbps - 10+Gbps (depending on channels used). AT&T (and many others) reserved their hand and estimated they a few years before the upgrade must be in place. It wasn’t until 2009, and the release of the 3rd generation iPhone, that AT&T started to cough up some change to improve their networks backhaul with a plan to revise starting in 2009 and expected to end in 2015. Verizon, while also committing to upgrade their backhaul, took a different route and purchased all the unused 700MHz TV traffic that now lay dormant with the HDTV mandate in 2008. Sprint poured about 5 Billion into it’s 4g network AKA WiMax, and allowed Clearwire access.

This year AT&T expects to place 2 billion into their network to stay in terms with upgrading their network. Unfortunately it seems like they have waited too long. With the major E-Readers (nook and Kindle among them) using AT&T’s 3g network for updates and data traffic. A new iPhone slated for release in later this year, and the iPad using only AT&T’s 3g network. AT&T stands to take a MAJOR hit to data traffic only a year into their upgrade attempts. However, AT&T is still hiding in the closet with regards to a quickly changing social norm saying, “We believe, though, the device, based on where we believe it will be used in homes, in offices, coffee shops, bookstores, airports, so on and so forth will be used a substantial amount of time in a Wi-Fi environment.”

Hopefully the relationship between Apple and AT&T holds firm when their network chokes after the launch of the new devices coming out. I personally enjoy not having Apple Fanboys tying up my cell network.

Do you think AT&T will be able to handle the anticipated iPad and new iPhone? Will Apple’s trend start to fail with the iPad, or will they be forced to open their devices up to all networks? Leave your feedback.