iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
kudos:2 Reviews:
 ·Comcast
| A few notes on the network while I agree that this is a lame thing to do, and that AT&T will probably come out with some U-Verse thing later (which will be served up from U-Verse HQ rather than customer homes, more than likely, to save bandwidth) here are some facts:
1. HSDPA 3.6 is quite inefficient in its use of spectrum. 3.6 Mbps down, 1.4 Mbps up in a 5 MHz channel. In contrast, EvDO Rev. A does 3.1/1.8 in a 1.25 MHz channel though most people only see 1-2/300-800.
2. AT&T has a limited amount of spectrum available in 850 and 1900 bands for both 2G and 3G. They messed with the network so now 3G is on 850, but even at that point 10MHz of spectrum, which is probably all that's available at 850 and half what's available at 1900, can only handle 3.6 Mbps of downstream data and a few simultaneous phone calls. Not a lot of capacity there.
SXSW killed AT&T's network. You couldn't place a call with the iPhone. AT&T has HUGE capacity issues in times like those, since their technology isn't efficient enough to use the valuable spectrum wisely. I'm sure that's a partial reason why Sprint is hunky dory about video on all their phones (EvDO network, a fair amount of spectrum in each market) versus AT&T.
Is this really admissible? No. Is there anything AT&T can do about it, short of buying T-Mobile and using their spectrum? Not really. Are they upgrading for more capacity? Yes, HSDPA 7.2 will cram double the bits per Hz of HSDPA 3.6. Will this help Slingbox users? Probably not...why improve when you can stagnate? Will it allow AT&T to have a usable network? Yes.
LTE will probably solve this bandwidth apocalypse on AT&T's side, but that's not for a few years yet, and you'll need a new phone to use it. Gotta love technology. |
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 mlernerPremium
join:2000-11-25
Nepean, ON
kudos:5 | The thing that really gets me about this situation is because AT&T complained about bandwidth constraints, Apple is not allowing it at all for any carrier when in fact Rogers in Canada is fine with it and would have no problems allowing it on their network since they do not have the same problems with bandwidth. |
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patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | reply to iansltx
Remember all these amounts are shared among all users. (3.6*number of instances of HSDPA)/users on tower, it makes DOCSIS look better. |
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