How AT&T’s T-Mobile acquisition will improve its network

In a call with investors this morning, AT&T executives gathered together to discuss what exactly yesterday’s announced T-Mobile acquisition means for the company. It’s also the first time we’ve heard specific details on short and long-term network improvements as a result of the deal.

Most of the improvements don’t come as a surprise, but they drive home just how important wireless spectrum will be to AT&T for its LTE 4G network, as well as how combining 3G networks may finally fix AT&T’s metropolitan coverage woes.

In the short-term, AT&T will focus on combining its 2G and 3G networks with T-Mobile. It will do so by making some cellular sites dual-band to support the carriers’ two separate 3G frequencies. This will double 3G capacity in many areas, although existing phones won’t be able to hop between AT&T and T-Mobile’s frequencies. AT&T says that T-Mobile subscribers will see all-around improved coverage. AT&T doesn’t plan to keep every T-Mobile cellular site working today, but it wouldn’t discuss how many sites it plans to keep.

AT&T will then look towards rationing wireless spectrum, which will serve to free up T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum to use later for its LTE 4G network. AT&T also plans to deliver devices for T-Mobile customers that will let them take advantage of its wireless frequencies.

With the added spectrum, AT&T says it will be able to deploy LTE 4G to 95 percent of the U.S. population, with speeds faster than Verizon’s competing LTE network.

AT&T’s ambitious LTE goals will take years to become fully realized. In the meanwhile, its acquisition of T-Mobile may be the fastest way for AT&T to fix its coverage problems in New York and San Francisco.

Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we’ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to the top 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. Request an invitation.