Can mobile networks handle the increasing mobile broadband traffic? In many, and perhaps most, markets the answer is yes. Some have seen problems in this regard, and AT&T’s network in New York City might be the preeminent case. Many of the island’s 8 million inhabitants, plus more than a handful of business commuters, use the iPhone, which can lead to heavy data consumption. This has led to less than optimal network function, especially during peak hours. It affects not only iPhone users, but anyone using data on AT&T, which includes BlackBerry and laptop modem users. It appears as though the company has found a temporary solution, which is to offer free Wi-Fi access.
AT&T has many Wi-Fi hotspots around the city that its mobile broadband and iPhone customers can use, but those networks aren’t available on a widespread basis. The new offering includes a newly set-up Wi-Fi network in Times Square, running between 45th and 47th Streets on Seventh Avenue. This becomes a high-traffic area because of its nature. Mayor Michael Bloomberg closed Broadway in that area and replaced the roadway with tables and benches. Businesspeople and tourists alike can take a load off and use their mobile devices in the area.
Now they’ll use a faster Wi-Fi connection at no extra charge. AT&T thinks this is a viable solution to their network traffic problems, and if they’re proven right they’ll expand the offering to other markets. It seems like a good idea, but it further illustrates the limitations of Wi-Fi. While the covered area in NYC is a highly trafficked one, it still constitutes a small portion of it. Will Wi-Fi in a three-block span help reduce traffic on its entire NYC network? I’m a skeptic.
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