AT&T 3G uploads made 50% faster

AT&T today said it has upped speeds with its LaptopConnect users in mind through a set of upgrades to the company's HSPA-based 3G wireless network. The service sees a major boost to upload speeds that increases the peak from 800Kbps to 1.2Mbps, a 50 percent gain which is nearly in line with download speeds. Those download speeds have also increased in overall performance, increasing from a minimum average of 600Kbps to 700Kbps and from a maximum real-world peak of about 1.4Mbps to 1.7Mbps.

The changeover is effective immediately for any region that already supports full HSPA rather than just HSDPA and requires one of the four HSPA-capable computer devices already in service with the carrier, such as the Sierra Wireless AirCard 881 and its sibling USBConnect 881 as well as the Option GT and GT Ultra.

AT&T doesn't say how soon the upgrades will be available for other devices, though the company is chiefly limited by the lack of fully HSPA-capable cellphones on its service and the industry at large. While a handful of such devices are available in some areas, phones suited to the US aren't anticipated until late this year with the launch of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 and similar high-end smartphones. Apple's upcoming 3G iPhone is still set to rely on HSDPA alone.

Filed under: industry, networking
Other story tags: AT&T, Sony Ericsson, XPERIA, Sierra Wireless, Option