ISPs include many companies that offer users access to the Internet: one of the major ISPs in the United States is AT&T. These provide different Internet service Provider connection both for the individuals and businesses within the country. Nevertheless, what kind of infrastructural and technological means does AT&T employ to offer access to the Internet? Now, let us consider some details.
The Network Backbone
The central platform in AT&T’s network is a high tech fiber-optic infrastructure. Through Fiber optic cables, data is transmitted through pulses of light on thin strands of glass. This makes it possible to offer high data speeds and the bandwidth necessary to support internet traffic.
The telecommunication giant has deployed more than 500000 miles of fiber optic cables across the country. Its large, high-speed long haul network interconnects AT&T sites and data centers to primary Internet exchange points across major metropolitan areas. It serves as the basis by which the ‘last mile’ access can be delivered in a fast and reliable manner.
Last Mile Connections
Whereas fiber optic cables constitute the network infrastructure better known as the backbone, the ‘last mile’ embodies the connection of homes and business premises. AT&T utilizes several different technologies at this stage.
- Fiber to the Premises (FTTP): On the other hand, FTTP involves the use of fiber optic cables to connect right to the building of the user. This avails the best and most secure Internet connection that is most relevant to the future. The price of the service allows the speeds to go up to 1Gbps for downloading and uploading.
- VDSL: Acronym for Very High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Line; VDSL uses normal copper telephone wires for the last mile. However, it is still relatively slower than DSLs in its early generations, with the fastest downstream rate of up to 100Mbps.
- Fixed Wireless: Where cable or fiber infrastructure is lacking for access to the internet, AT&T Customer Service fixed wireless broadband. This employs the cellular towers and roof top antennae for broadcast of data over the air. Actual speeds are not as high and fluctuate between 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps on average.
- Satellite Internet: Where the terrestrial internet cannot reach, satellite internet enables connection through orbiting satellites. However, its major disadvantage is the high latency and the effects of adverse weather on signal transmission due to the long distance covered by the signals. To this effect, while AT&T offers satellite internet service, this is mostly targeted at boats at sea and other transport facilities as opposed to domestic usage.
- 4G/5G cellular: The internet can also be accessed using AT&T 4G and 5G mobile networks which the company offers to its customers. It is also an alternate and backup source for homes and business if their Wired/Wireless Internet Connection is unavailable. Nevertheless, data usage is usually limited in mobile packages which makes them unfit for home internet.
Key Internet Infrastructure
Moreover, AT&T employs vast resources in last mile and backbone technology as a way of providing key infrastructure to link its networks to the international WWW.
Some of the core components enabling AT&T internet services include
- Fiber Optic Hubs & Exchanges: AT&T has fiber optic hub facilities in more than one hundred locations across the country. They both act as access points for cities and locations where customers can jump straight into ATT fibre system.
- Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Routers: BGP routers are responsible for traffic routing and sharing depending on the internet service provider. The use of BGP routers places AT&T in a position where it can continue to provide Internet connection to its customers and other sites and services around the world.
- Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): CDNs such as edge servers store replicates of famous content in localities and connected centers and hubs across the area. This is beneficial in accelerating the delivery of Steaming video’s, gaming platforms, and other site that require a huge bandwidth. In an attempt to enhance its service delivery to customers, AT&T currently has over 150 CDN edge server sites.
- Internet Exchange Points: IXPs enable service providers such as AT&T to exchange traffic to and from other networks belonging to the participant service providers. DE-CIX, LINX, and the Amsterdam Internet Exchange are some of the top IXPS that have presence in over 20 locations in the world that is controlled by AT&T.
Continual Infrastructure Upgrades
In order to meet the demands of new internet usage and increasing internet speeds in America, AT&T is persistently building up more networks. These include fiber leasing, which is the process of adding fiber to buildings to provide internet access while replacing outdated technologies such as DSL and dial-up where possible, implementing the use of SDN and NFV for network functions and planning for the evolution to mobile internet with the rollout of 5G across the country.
Such investments in FTTH, wireless broadband, and IP backbones allow AT&T to provide its millions of residential and enterprise subscribers with fast and stable Internet connections. By innovations that are targeted on aspects such as speed, latency, network security, and intelligent management of the networks, AT&T seeks to create one of the best internet experience possible within different deployment environment, from multi-unit urban buildings down to rural homes in the most remote areas.
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