3G buildout to reach 350 markets by 2009, AT&T Mobility promises

AT&T Mobility said it will step up its 3G buildout, expanding its high-speed mobile service to more than 80 additional cities this year.
The nation’s No. 1 mobile carrier said it will launch more than 1,500 new cell sites as it increases its 3G footprint to serve nearly 350 U.S. markets by the end of the year. AT&T Mobility also said it plans to complete its High Speed Uplink Packet Access-enabled network (HSUPA) this summer, calling the deployment “the next step in the evolution” toward HSPA+ and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies.
“The capabilities of 3G standards will continue to expand over the next several years, enabling us to stay well ahead of our customers’ broadband needs,” said CEO Ralph de la Vega. “And looking even further into the future, our existing technologies provide the ideal platform for a smooth transition to next-generation platforms.”
AT&T Mobility’s news follows Verizon Wireless’ announcement late last year that it would upgrade its network to LTE technology, thereby spurning the CDMA upgrade path.
AT&T Mobility’s network plans are also notable as the carrier is currently participating in the Federal Communications Commission’s 700 MHz spectrum auction, which could give the carrier additional capacity for 3G services.