AT&T to Start HSPA 7.2 Upgrade ‘Later This Year’

AT&T Inc. said on Wednesday that its previously announced plans to upgrade its 3G network will swing into action “later this year,” with completion expected in 2011.

The mobile operator will upgrade its HSPA network to 7.2mbps technology and is doubling the wireless spectrum dedicated to 3G in most metropolitan areas to deliver stronger in-building reception and more overall network capacity.

AT&T also plans to begin LTE trials in 2010, with deployment beginning in 2011, and is meanwhile adding thousands of new cell site backhaul connections to support the higher mobile broadband speeds enabled by HSPA 7.2 and LTE.