AT&T: Our Network is Fine, Thank You

By  |  Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:15 am

att_header_logoSpeculation over the causes of AT&T’s network issues moved back to the forefront this week when a researcher speculated that the way the carrier had configured its network was the cause of its troubles. In other words, it ain’t the iPhone’s fault.

The research and idea was first presented by Brough Turner, a 25-year veteran of the communications industry. Turner’s work was republished by several media outlets (including us), and again put AT&T in the now familiar position of damage control.

Well, the carrier is none too happy about having to defend itself again. “The AT&T wireless network is designed and engineered to deliver the highest possible levels of capacity and performance. Our standing as the nation’s fastest 3G network is validated by multiple third-party testing organizations on the basis of millions of drive tests annually,” the carrier said in a statement to Technologizer.

What about Turner’s accusations of configuration issues? AT&T says there is no basis in fact for his research. “We believe that recent online speculation regarding AT&T wireless network configuration settings is without foundation. Allegations in these posts regarding packet loss network settings are incorrect,” spokesperson Seth Bloom said.

Back to the drawing board for those trying to figure out what’s going on with the “nation’s fastest 3G network” I guess.

 
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6 Comments For This Post

  1. David Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    Well here’s my experience so far… For the past few weeks I’m lucky if I can send email from my AT&T Blackberry though I have 3-5 bars of EDGE signal showing. This is in locations where I have never had trouble in the past and I’ve had the phone for two years now.

  2. Josh Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Would they admit it even if it were true?

  3. Adam Pieniazek Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    As I clicked the title of your article in Google Reader on my iPhone, this happened.

    The worst part is, I was not surprised in the least bit. AT&T’s network is the definition of FAIL.

    P.S. On a monthly basis I call AT&T and get a partial refund because their network sucks. Why are they giving me money back if their network is fine?

  4. carlos Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    I have blackjack from samsung for almost two years with ATT. and sometimes i do not get reception here in Tujunga or at work in L.A. I do not understand if ATT is the fastest 3G network why my family using Verizon get the signal on hte same spots

  5. Brough Turner Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    Denial by a “spokesperson” doesn’t answer the specific technical issues I raised. It’s unfortunate there doesn’t appear to be a way to reach someone within AT&T who actually understands routing and TCP congestion control.

    Since writing my article, I have received additional measurement data from individuals that confirms AT&T Wireless has this specific buffer problem elsewhere in their network, but I have received no contact from AT&T technical people.

  6. Bernice Says:
    July 20th, 2010 at 4:00 am

    Is anyone else having problems with A T&T DSL in the Atlanta metro area? Our service has been either out or off and on for 10 days.

2 Trackbacks For This Post

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    October 28th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

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