AT&T says upgrade of NYC wireless network is complete, should help prevent dropped calls

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AT&T says NYC wireless network upgrade complete

NEW YORK — AT&T Inc. has completed a project to improve wireless service in New York City, where the proliferation of iPhones has caused dropped calls, slow downloads and other problems, the phone company said Monday.

The Dallas-based company said that it has given more room on the airwaves to its “3G” network, used by the iPhone and some other phones, in the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

The project has steadily improved service quality over the last six months, AT&T said.

AT&T said in February that upgrading its wireless network, particularly in New York and San Francisco, was a top priority, and that it was adding billions to this year’s capital budget to do so.

A similar upgrade of San Francisco’s network is still ongoing, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said.

Also Monday, Apple Inc. reported that its latest iPhone model is the fastest-selling yet, with more than 1.7 million units sold in the first three days. The iPhone 4 went on sale Thursday in the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Japan. AT&T is the exclusive carrier for the phone in the U.S.