AT&T revs up locally wireless network

3G will provide greater speed for compatible devices

AT&T is announcing today a new wireless, broadband network that will cover Huntsville and much of Madison and provide much higher speeds to its customers for data and video, company officials said.

The rollout of the 3G network - third generation - means wireless handheld devices such as phones can have download and searching speed similar to DSL or cable modems, said Ron Sleeper, AT&T's director of wireless operations sales for central and north Alabama.

The network, which is now available, won't be faster for laptops and handheld devices that aren't 3G compatible, but Sleeper said a growing number of products are compatible.

The network is modeled on the Global Systems for Mobile Communications, or GSM, the global wireless standard, which is available in most countries.

Laptops that aren't 3G compatible can be upgraded with a wireless attachment to access AT&T's network, Sleeper said.

AT&T established a 3G network in Birmingham about a year ago, and plans to expand the network in the Madison County area and other parts of the state next year. The company said it currently has about 220 3G network communities across the U.S. and will have spent $29 million in Alabama this year to expand wireless coverage. Sleeper said the local 3G coverage should be similar to voice coverage in the Huntsville area.

The network features include simultaneous voice and data access, which allows users to talk while receiving Internet or related information. It also enables video sharing, where two network workers can connect and "See what I see" streaming video, during a phone call.

Verizon Wireless introduced its 3G network known as Rev A here about a year ago, said Kelly Shrout, the company's district sales manager for North Alabama. The network extends through much of North Alabama, Shrout said, including the Shoals area, Decatur and Athens.