AT&T will move 'Heaven and Earth' to improve its network: CTO

AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan, speaking at VentureBeat’s MobileBeat 2010 conference Monday in San Francisco, said that AT&T was committed to improving its network, and that AT&T “will move heaven and Earth” to meet the data needs of its customers. We've heard that before, however.

It's something we heard from AT&T before, a promise that they would improve their network. Those of us saddled with AT&T service, whether for the iPhone or some other device, haven't been impressed by their results.

Additionally, while Donovan described his vision for a future as one in which more and more data flows through mobile networks, it's hard to align that with a company that has recently instituted the first tiered data service plans among U.S. carriers.

True, we fully expect all U.S. wireless carriers to adopt such plans, but it's hard to reconcile these moves, along with moves toward tiered service among wired broadband companies with the increasing push by media companies for consumers to use more bandwidth. The ISPs and carriers want us to use less (or at least, encourage us with tiered plans), while media wants us to use more.

Donovan also stated that AT&T has faced a shortage of the components needed to improve its network. It is not a question of money or commitment that has prevented such improvements.

“I’ll tell you the things it’s not been,” Donovan said. “It’s not been capital, it’s not been conviction and commitment.” AT&T “will move heaven and Earth” to meet its customers’ growing data needs, he said.

Many consumers already have their eye on something that will improve the AT&T network: a Verizon iPhone. If it comes, as many expect, in Q1 2011, and if AT&T customers defect in droves (which most do not feel will happen), could we see improvement by attrition?