Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2009 > March > 15 > Entry
AT&T’s network not up to the task at SXSW?
UPDATE: Here’s a response from AT&T spokesman Mike Barger.
“To accommodate unprecedented demand for mobile data and voice applications at SXSW, we are actively working this afternoon to add capacity to our cell sites serving downtown Austin. These efforts are ongoing, but we anticipate that customers should see improved network performance this evening and for the remainder of the event.
“We will continue to monitor network performance throughout the event, and will do everything possible to maximize network performance throughout. We apologize to customers who were inconvenienced during this surge in local network demand.”
AT&T officials now say the network is working as it should. The company doubled the network capacity in the downtown area. Those in the know said no one anticipated so many people to show up with iPhones, an AT&T-exclusive product, and that’s what overwhelmed the network.
More than a few iPhone users are venting their frustration on the Web about the AT&T network here in Austin.
According to a number of tech sites and twitter feeds, SXSW attendees with iPhones have been unable to make calls and send text messages anywhere near the Austin Convention Center. Data services have suffered as well, although users can still get the Web via Wi-Fi. Here’s what CNET has to say about the situation:
But AT&T’s network has not been nearly as impressive, and that’s a shame. I suppose there’s a reason, but it would seem logical that the company could have put in the effort to ensure that the thousands and thousands of people at SXSW—which may constitute the highest concentration of iPhone users anywhere on Earth—could get good cell service. Alas, that wasn’t the case.
Check out the frustration on Twitter here.
Tell us - are you experiencing iPhone difficulties at SXSW?
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment Categories: SXSW 2009
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By nongeek
March 17, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
What a shame that the geeksters can't stay connected 7x24. Puhleaseeeeeeeeee....get a life and cut your umbilical cord!!! Unbelievable how many people think they have to be on their cell phone all the time.
By Mike
March 16, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Voice and Data take HUGE amounts of bandwidth.
If you are having trouble connecting to a voice conversation, send a text message instead. It will still most likely go through when there is high network traffic due to the message being measured in bytes instead of megabytes.
If you want to look at a youtube video or other web content.. wait till you are at a location with a wireless portal instead of using the cell lines. When you use the cell towers as a way to connect to the internet, you are also sharing the tower with ALL cellphone users... instead of just those sharing the port.
Also, what do you expect when 1000's of iphone using people descend on one 1x1 mile location, all expecting perfect iphone coverage, and all wanting to view high-bandwidth using media?
By Joe
March 15, 2009 11:59 PM | Link to this
Since the influx of iPhones, especially after the last Christmas holiday, AT&T's 3G service has been atrocious. We were using a 3G card for our laptop, but the signal progressively deteriorated to 13 kb/s. AT&T has had this problem in Austin for a while, and it's shocking they are just now taking it seriously.
By ab214
March 15, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this
I have an iphone and love it - but HATE AT&T. I have dropped calls all the time and can't get a decent signal downtown or out in the 'burbs. I carry a Verizon phone for work and never have a problem.
By keith
March 15, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
AT&T is a subpar wireless provider - they have never had a decent network, even though they tout it as being 'great'. I ditched them years ago after multiple times that I would be driving down Mopac and get dropped multiple times within a mile.....Verizon is years ahead of AT&T Wireless
By mr
March 15, 2009 5:50 PM | Link to this
The free wi-fi downtown rarely works for me.
By Julie Gomoll
March 15, 2009 5:39 PM | Link to this
Problems? absolutely. I count on using my iPhone for quick "where are you" and "meet me here" updates via SMS, Twitter, and/or voice. I can't count on that at all, and it's frustrating.
I hear that, ages ago, people used to actually plan this stuff in advance. I'll have to see if I can Google some instructions for doing that :)
By Heavy
March 15, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
Oh no! You mean the geeks might actually have to talk to each other? Maybe they'll take the Geek Fest to another city next year and we could have another week of music instead.
By Sharon
March 15, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this
Most AT&T users in New Orleans for Mardi Gras had serious problems. Maybe their network just can't handle large loads in a single area like that. Verizon users had a much better experience.
By raggedyassgyrene
March 15, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
I imagine there are limits to anyone's network and perhaps AT&T was just caught wanting. Or perhaps they thought they had everything
covered, but didn't. Whatever it was, it wasn't the end of the world, unless it was one of those all impotant text messages from one side of the table to the other. And there is always Shahghai Wireless if you're really ticked off.
By Robert
March 15, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this
I'm not at SXSW, but i can confirm my iPhone was useless at ACL...no calls in or out, and no data either.
By Odam
March 15, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this
I am experiencing AT&T problems with my Blackberry, not just at the Convention Center, but also Maggie Mae's and places around downtown.
By elvis
March 15, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this
AT&T doesn't seem to do anything for cellular coverage at the ACL festival either and they have a major sponsorship deal together.