Comments on: Commentary: AT&T’s Culpability In The “Bandwidth Shortage” https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/ #1 Source for iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac and AppleTV Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:14:36 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.9 By: joetomasone https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17304 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:14:36 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17304 In reply to Damnskippy.

Yes and no. While I am giving them some rope on dealing with the unexpected surge, I give them no free passes when it comes to voice, or the 3G rollout in general.

You mention that some areas are "very bad" – if one of those areas is San Francisco and you are referring to data, you should be aware that data traffic has increased a whopping 2000% (not a typo – two thousand percent) in 2009.
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20091117/thank…

]]> By: Damnskippy https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17302 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:46:18 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17302 While I think some are too harsh I think you are being too soft on AT&T. Agreed things like this take time etc but they could have done a much better job than they have. Some areas are fine but some are very bad, that points out bad planning and monitoring of what needs to be done to the network. Plus if you look at their pricing they charge more for texting than they do for data. If data is such an issue why is it cheaper than texts?

]]> By: joetomasone https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17298 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:38:20 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17298 In reply to RobB.

Actually, the apps almost certainly caught them by surprise; until October 2007, Apple was insisting that the only 3rd party content would be via Web apps. The SDK was released in March 2008, and Pandora (for example) wasn't released until July; and many of the other "bandwidth hog" apps were released roughly a year ago. Data usage on AT&T ramped up exponentially after the release of the 3G, which was in July 2008 — same as Pandora. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/21/how-the-ipho…

So figure by this time last year they knew they had a problem on their hands. They've obviously been working on it, but in places like San Francisco they've had a 2000% increase in data traffic. (http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20091117/thank…

To think that this kind of capacity is added nationwide in 12 months is to be living in a fool's paradise, my friend.

But, if you think the grass is greener, let's look at Verizon's LTE rollout. In Dec 2008, they announced that they wouldn't begin deployment until 2010.
(http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/10/dick-lynch-ver…

Then recently, they announced that it will be completed "by 2014" with up to 30 markets rolled out in 2010.
http://text.broadbandreports.com/shownews/101893

..And the LTE equipment will coexist with CDMA, a much less tricky affair than mucking with your in-use equipment.

But hey, grab a pitchfork and a torch if you must – if Verizon gets an iPhone next year that's LTE capable and you can't use it, I presume you'll call for their heads as well?

]]> By: joetomasone https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17294 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:59:51 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17294 In reply to Andre.

Actually, they were probably contractually obligated to do so.

]]> By: RobB https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17295 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:57:19 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17295 It doesn't take 3 years to improve network load issues if you're serious about it. To your own point 3G was never a surprise, but neither was the concept of 3rd party apps. They may have taken hold faster and in greater volume, but a good network architect should have had a fall back plan knowing that this could very well be possible. The decline in capex (if it's true) is not only irresponsible but is a statement about the integrity of the organization. They are clearly saying one thing to their consumer base and doing the complete opposite. Not a company I want to do business with. Apple deserves some blame here for allowing the exclusivity to continue as even if a contract does exist the service level of AT&T almost certainly should allow for breach with some type of out clause. Apple should not only be demanding the improvements but actively engaged in the project and monitoring progress. Clearly AT&T cannot be left to operate on the honor system. All I can say to AT&T is, "Good luck repairing this brand". Once they lose exclusivity nobody is going to touch this network if you pay them to. If I were on the board, I would fire the Chairman/CEO and everyone below that has any responsibility for the wireless division. This is a clinic on how to destroy a successful organization.

]]> By: Andre https://isource.com/2009/12/19/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/#comment-17286 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:27:06 +0000 http://isource.com/general/commentary-atts-culpability-in-the-bandwidth-shortage/%20#comment-17286 And yet they keep selling these phones (and other smartphones), despite the fact that they haven't caught up with the infrastructure. Of course they're to blame. If not, they would have stopped greedily selling them until they had improved the network.

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