Apple Thoughts: AT&T Upgrades 3G Network

"AT&T today announced completion of a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation's fastest 3G network for even faster speeds. The deployment of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 7.2 technology across 3G cell sites is the first of multiple initiatives in AT&T's network enhancement strategy designed to provide customers with the best possible mobile broadband experience, both today and well into the future."

The work to upgrade the backbone to support a "theoretical" peak speed of 7.2 megabits per second will continue through 2011. However, if you are in one of the six cities they are currently working on (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami) you should see benefits soon. For the rest of us, they expect most of it to be done by the end of 2010, finishing up by the end of 2011.