AT&T Testing 7.2Mbps Downloads In Chicago

An AT&T spokesperson recently commented that the company has been trialling 7.2Mbps downloads in Chicago, and will boost those speeds to 14.4Mbps in the near future. According to AT&T, it plans to upgrade its existing HSPA network to HSPA+ before transitioning to LTE. Some of AT&T's competitors, such as Verizon Wireless, have indicated that they may begin rolling out their next-generation LTE networks as early as late 2009. Chicago also happens to be one of the markets picked by Clearwire/Sprint for its WiMax network. AT&T didn't say which network technology was being used to reach the 7.2 and 14.4Mbps download speeds, but did say that it expects to begin rolling out its LTE network in some markets within two years.