Number two US operator AT&T yesterday announced plans to double the speed of its HSPA mobile broadband network by 2011 and begin trials of next-generation LTE technology next year. The operator will upgrade its HSPA network – currently offering theoretical peak download speeds of 3.6Mb/s in nearly 350 major metropolitan areas – later this year, with completion expected in 2011. The upgrade will increase the peak theoretical download speed to 7.2Mb/s. “The HSPA 7.2 technology will be deployed widely in the network, with the benefits of the network upgrade to be announced on a local basis as the faster speeds are turned up,” noted the operator in a statement. “AT&T will introduce multiple HSPA 7.2-compatible laptop cards and smartphones beginning later this year.” Such comments will likely fuel speculation that AT&T – sole operator supplier of the iPhone in the US – is expecting Apple to next month launch an upgraded version of its iconic device.

Meanwhile, the operator plans to begin LTE trials in 2010, with deployment beginning in 2011. Rival Verizon Wireless – the country’s largest operator – plans to launch commercial LTE networks next year. Other initiatives unveiled by AT&T yesterday include plans for expansion of its 850MHz network, deployment of about 2,100 new cell sites across the country, 20 new HSPA markets added this year, and increased Wi-Fi coverage so that smartphone and laptop cards will be able to switch seamlessly between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. The operator also reinforced its commitment to femtocell ‘home base station’ technology, stating that customer trials will lead towards commercial availability. AT&T’s announcement yesterday fits within the operator’s previously outlined expectation of total capital expenditures for 2009 of US$17 billion to US$18 billion.