AT&T is rushing to rollout updated 3G network as the company expects tenfold increase in traffic from new iPhone hardware that Apple is expected to release in June 2009. AT&T will be making most of its 3G network 7.2Mbps capable by May end with aim to further increase network speed to up to 21Mbps within a couple of years.

According to AppleInsider’s source, this sudden rush to improve the 3G network is because AT&T expects 10 times as much data traffic as they are now experiencing once the new iPhone is released this summer. iPhone already accounts for more than half of the mobile data traffic on AT&T’s network and with new iPhone hardware that will support faster 3G network, data requirement is going to rise only.

To improve network speed AT&T is migrating its towers to 850MHz frequency and adding Juniper routers that can handle higher data throughputs. The 850MHz towers will not only provide faster network speeds but also greater coverage and better penetration through walls and other barrier.

Apple engineers who are evaluating the upgraded network are very impressed with its speed. One person familiar with the situation said that Apple iPhone engineers have “never gotten pages to load as fast as they were loading on the new routers.” Apple wants AT&T to complete the upgrade, quality test it and have it ready to go live no later than May 31st. Indicating that next generation iPhone will be announced in June.
[Via AppleInsider]