AT&T Coverage & Reliability Review
Mobile Broadband
For the most recent info, check out the 2010 AT&T Coverage Review
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While AT&T doesn't have the best 3G coverage, they do offer the use of WiFi hotspots for free
AT&T Coverage & Reliability is quite the ironic case.
While it's quite undisputed that AT&T has the best mobile broadband global coverage, their coverage in the United States may leave you wanting more.
AT&T doesn't have the best 3G coverage. While its available in most cities, Verizon and Sprint have them beat.
To drive the nail into the coffin, Verizon actually displays how much more mobile broadband coverage they have on their map.
Does that mean you should drop any thoughts of AT&T for Verizon or Sprint?
Not just yet.
While having nationwide coverage is excellent, it might not be necessary for you. If you know that you spend most of your time in urban environments (even while travelling), you may not experience any lack of 3G.
In the times that you do, the speed offers by AT&T's EDGE network (which is just about everywhere) may be quite manageable.
As we covered in our previous AT&T Coverage review, they also "offers use of its hotspots for free to Laptop Connect [AT&T Mobile Broadband] and smartphone users". Couple that with the 3G coverage and you just might be covered. To get a better grasp on what each type of coverage could give you in terms of speed, take a look at the table below.
Location |
Connection Type |
Speed (kilobits per sec) |
Speed (kilobytes/s) |
Partner Locations |
WiFi |
3,000 - 20,000 Kbps |
375 KB/s - 2,500 KB/s |
Urban Areas |
3G |
600 - 1,400 Kbps |
73.2 KB/s - 170.8 KB/s |
Interstates |
EDGE |
200 - 400 Kbps |
24.4 KB/s - 48.8 KB/s |
Rural Areas |
GPRS |
56 - 114 Kbps |
6.8 KB/s - 13.9 KB/s |
Now that you've got a idea of the speeds you can get, let's put it in context. While you see how fast you could be going with AT&T depending on what coverage area you're in, it helps if you know how fast you're going right now. Below is a speed test tool you can use to do just that.
Last but not least, here's the AT&T's Coverage Viewer to take a look at actual 3G coverage.
Now that you've got a grasp on what AT&T 3G coverage would be like for you, there are some important concerns you should take it into consideration.
AT&T 3G Data Outages
Over the last year, AT&T coverage & reliability has taken some serious hits with 3G data outages on multiple occasions. Once, a major network outage stretched far along the northeast. On a separate occasion, the east coast was without 3G or EDGE coverage. Early in 2009, the east coast was affected yet again.
It's not just the east coast either. In February of this year, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana all got a chance to share in the data outage jamboree.
What's the official reason for these outages?
While AT&T has quoted reasons like cut cables and other isolated events, the huge suspect is that the current influx of 3G iPhone data users are straining the network beyond what they originally anticipated.
The end result?
Everyone feels the pinch.
Now that you know the good, bad & ugly when it comes to AT&T broadband plans & prices, speed, & coverage. Now it's time to take a look at AT&T AirCards & Broadband Cards.
