AT&T Says Lower Upload Speeds Are Caused By Software

Earlier today, AT&T released a statement saying that the widely-reported iPhone upload speeds had been traced to a software defect ni a particular cell-site gear. The problem with Alcatel-Lucent UMTS base stations that they say "impacts less than two percent" of all AT&T customers "under certain conditions." The company said that the issue is being resolved and that there is a fix coming, but they won't mention when it will be released. They somehow still claim to be providing "normal upload speeds." The upload speed issues were first experienced and complaining about starting late last week in larger cities. Reports started pouring in from less populated areas as the holiday weekend wore on as well. iPhone 4 users that had previously been experiencing and enjoying 1.5 MB/s range stooped as low as 100 kb/. Other people within the same area didn't see any effect, leading to thoughts that the problem was relegated to particular cells. In today's statement, AT&T corporate communications confirmed the issue, stating that firmware on Alcatel-Lucent equipment was to blame for the problems. Here is what they said:

AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect -- triggered under certain conditions – that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base. While Alcatel-Lucent develops the appropriate software fix, we are providing normal 3G uplink speeds and consistent performance for affected customers with HSUPA-capable devices.

Furthermore, in a statement to Matt Buchanan at Gizmodo, an AT&T rep mentioned that the carrier does not "have a definite time for the Alcatel-Lucent software fix to be complete at this point; we expect to know that soon." Are any of you still experiencing the slower speeds on the network? Or was it just something you experienced over the holiday weekend? Share your thoughts and comments below.