How Good (or Bad) is AT&T's Network? The Power of Brands and Narrative in Shaping Public Perception

AT&T's cellular network leaves a lot to be desired, according to many.  However, if you are willing to put up with it, you too can become the proud owner of an iPhone, since AT&T is still the only network that supports the world's coolest device.

And why, pray tell, is AT&T's service so bad - and apparently getting worse every day (if you believe news reports and the stories that get told and retold)?

Because of all those iPhone users jumping on board, of course, and their streaming, browsing, uploading, texting and talking.  It makes perfect sense that these data hogs put a hurt on network resources and rob it of precious bandwidth.

All well and good, except network tests show that AT&T has the best network for data, according to a NY Times article by Randall Stross: AT&T Takes the Blame, Even for iPhone's Faults.

The article cited independent testing by two firms.  Here are the results from the article (the first, based on tests by Global Wireless Solutions, and the second from Root Wireless, a company that ran close to 5 million tests involving smartphones and the major carriers):

The results place AT&T’s data network not just on top, but well ahead of everyone else. “AT&T’s data throughput is 40 to 50 percent higher than the competition, including Verizon.”

In every market, AT&T had faster average download speeds and had signal strength of 75 percent or better more frequently than did Verizon.

The article suggests that the poor network performance is due to the iPhone design... but people simply do not want to believe that a company as cool and tech savvy as Apple could be at fault, and are more apt to blame AT&T:

Roger Entner, senior vice president for telecommunications research at Nielsen, said the iPhone’s “air interface,” the electronics in the phone that connect it to the cell towers, had shortcomings that “affect both voice and data.” He said that in the eyes of the consumer, “the iPhone has the nimbus of infallibility, ergo, it’s AT&T’s fault.”

Note: The article asks the question - but does not answer, at least to my satisfaction - why Consumer Reports ranks AT&T lowest in cellphone service if the company truly does have a better network. It seems to imply that the dissatisfaction stems from iPhone users and the iPhone design.  Randall has opened our eyes and cast some doubt on some conventional wisdom, but I am not sure the "myth" has been completely and undeniably busted.

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