AT&T Planning to Double 3G Speeds?

AT&T is working on doubling the capacity of its 3G network to 7.2 Mbps...and might have a rollout done in time for new iPhone devices.

Telecommunications operator AT&T is testing new HSPA+ technology on its 3G network that effectly doubles theoretical bandwidth for 3G devices from 3.6 Mbps to 7.2 Mbps. According to Telephony Online, AT&T is already testing the HSPA+ technology in two test markets, and plans to extend the capabilities to its entire 3G network laster this year.

The timing of AT&T’s technology tests are interesting, as rumors have the company maneuvering to extend its lock on U.S. sales of the Apple iPhone through 2011. AT&T upgraded its EDGE network to support the launch of the initial iPhone in 2007; if the company were able to over higher bandwidth services to iPhone users, that might be the kind of best-of-breed service that would appeal to Apple and make it consider sticking with AT&T.

Of course, the theoretical bandwidth expansion enabled by HSPA+ will, in most cases, fail to materialize in consumers’s hands. Although AT&T’s 3G network is theoretically capable of handling 3.6Mbps connections now, customers typically only see performance from 800 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps; HSPA+ will likely improve throughput, but end users are unlikely to see the theoretical maximums promised by the technology. Many existing 3G devices will be able to tap into HSPA+ bandwidth without upgrades.

In theory, HSPA can be cranked all the way up to 14.4 Mbps over a 5 MHz link. However, AT&T is likely to focus on developing 4G technologies based on LTE rather than continuing to evolve HSPA.

Apple will be unveiling its iPhone 3.0 operating system soon; industry watcher also expect the company to announce one or more new iPhone devices at its upcoming World Wide Developers Conference in early June.