AT&T Becomes The Official Wireless Provider For U.S. Disney Parks

[mkt]

The problem with AT&T's 4G network is that is mostly based on an updated version of HSPA+, which is approx 3X slower than LTE. If they are truly throwing LTE coverage into the parks, it might not be so bad.

I've had perfect LTE coverage my past two visits, November '12, and March '13.

 

[plutofan15]

Not a completely accurate statement. Even my current AT&T iPhone 5 which uses LTE for data still uses GSM technology for voice traffic and if I'm on a voice call drops back to GSM tech for data.

There is no widely deployed voice over LTE technology. Some Android phones add additional antenna so you can be on a GSM call and use LTE for data at the same time but even in that case (at least on AT&T) you are still using GSM tech for the voice portion of the session.

This is incorrect. It is true that LTE (4G) is strictly data at this point. Voice calls on a LTE device will be carried over the UMTS (3G) network. Only in cases of extremly high usage will voice calls be directed to GSM (2G). GSM is an old, outdated technology that I can guarantee will not be included in the build out of these new sites. In fact, GSM will be gone by 2017.

 

[plutofan15]

The problem with AT&T's 4G network is that is mostly based on an updated version of HSPA+, which is approx 3X slower than LTE. If they are truly throwing LTE coverage into the parks, it might not be so bad.

Incorrect again. HSDPA+ is the enhanced version of the 3G UMTS network which served as a bridge from the 3G network to the 4G LTE network. The Disney area has had 4G LTE active since sometime last year.

 

[Coolneal]

The biggest thing that people are missing is the AT&T WiFi HotSpots .. Most AT&T phones are programmed to pick up this signal first b/c it's a free service for customers. Which would instantly get AT&T customers off the in park service. I do not believe the other carriers offer a similar service, so this help all carriers and Disney with bandwidth.

 

[flynnibus]

The biggest thing that people are missing is the AT&T WiFi HotSpots .. Most AT&T phones are programmed to pick up this signal first b/c it's a free service for customers. Which would instantly get AT&T customers off the in park service. I do not believe the other carriers offer a similar service, so this help all carriers and Disney with bandwidth.

This wouldn't help Disney - because this is yet another Wifi network that would cause congestion in the limited radio bandwidth in the parks. Sure it would save Disney IP bandwidth.. but at the expense of far more valuable wifi radio 'space'. The last thing Disney wants is WiFi networks in the area that it can't tightly control.

 

[wdwmagic]

AT&T network improvements now live at Walt Disney World in the form of small cells and Distributed Antenna Systems

 

[wdwmagic]

So how is performance on AT&T with these upgrades in place?

 

[tissandtully]

So how is performance on AT&T with these upgrades in place?

It's excellent. I can verify, I remember it being terrible at DAK before the sponsorship and now I get LTE everywhere, even WiFi has improved, but I'll still stick to LTE.

 

[BearsMom2011]

Whoa. I was psyched about this new development, but there are a lot of cynical folks on here. Yikes