Will Northeast MI ever receive 3G?

[Mjrtom7]

I've heard talk about how ATT is "working on their network coverage" and plans to provide 3G service in Northeast MI "in the coming months".  Well, now that another 2 year contract has expired, I'm seriously wondering if I would be better off jumping to Verizon.  The EDGE data network up here if virtually useless.  5 full bars, yet extremely poor data transfer.  

Can anyone provide an HONEST answer as to when this coverage is planned to be upgraded???  Verizon has had 3G for quite a long while up here...

[Mjrtom7]

I know I'm off topic, but what theme is that Ninja?  Looks nice...

[American Ninja]

I don't know. It's from my friends phone. He just got a S3.

[American Ninja]

I have a question. when a phone says "4G" that is really HSPA+? And when it's true 4G it will display LTE correct?

[Lewyman]

@American Ninja
You are correct. Newer AT&T devices display "4G" in 3G and HSPA+(*) areas and 4G LTE in LTE coverage areas.(**) There are some 3G areas left but most of the that has been upgraded to H+.

*With enhanced backhaul
**Where available
Not available in all areas

[American Ninja]

Ok, thank you Lewyman!

[American Ninja]

I can confirm 4G in Gladstone, MI!

[Lewyman]

Awesome. I hope they continue to upgrade until their entire EDGE network is GONE!!!!!!!  Hopefully in the next few years when AT&T starts refarming their spectrum, they will be able to deploy LTE statewide. They don't currently have the spectrum to deploy it now, but HSPA+ is pretty fast. I would like to know if AT&T is deploying HSPA+14 or 21 in the new markets it is upgrading in northern Mi. 

[American Ninja]

I hope they are getting rid of the Edge network too. I'll let you know if I get 4G (well 3G + lol)around here as I'm still on Edge where I live.

I took some screenshots and some speedtests:

[Lewyman]

It appears the network is HSPA+14 and the speedtest results are decent for sure. Seems to be in line with the speeds I tested in Gaylord and Alpena this past weekend. Hopefully you will have service at your house soon.

[American Ninja]

Oh ok cool. Finally happy to have something other than Edge when in town. It's about time since Verizon has had 3G up here for the longest time, then in Jan this year Verizon updated to the full 4G LTE( there was a big story on the local news here about). Took AT&T long enough. Lol I'm hoping since they updated the towers in Gladstone/Escanaba that means they will be upgrading more towers now and not just stop there then come back months later for the others.

[Lewyman]

AT&T has stated that it will have its ENTIRE network upgraded to "4G" by the end of 2013 as will Verizon. Awesome!!

[American Ninja]

Nice! great news!

[Tpeltz]

Glad to hear that AT&T is activating more HSPA+ in the U.P! 

Lewyman, do you have a link to the AT&T 4G by end of 2013 article? 

[Lewyman]

Tpeltz
I have an AT&T hotspot and when I called to complain about ZERO connectivity on EDGE in Lewiston, they bumped me up tier 2 CS. I was told they are aggressively upgrading their network and plan to have their entire EDGE footprint upgraded to HSPA+ by the end of 2013. I don't really believe that but that's what the guy told me.

[Lewyman]

Was in Gaylord today and tried to use my AT&T Mifi Liberate but couldn't. 4G service was just horrible as I couldn't use it at all. Very high pings and EDGE like speeds when it would connect. Does the quirky data mean LTE is being tested???HaHa!!!!  New Sprint LTE has popped up on Sensorly along  I-75 just a bit south of Otsego Lake.