AT&T's improving its coverage at live events by establishing a new (impressive sounding) setup -- the five-beam multi-beam antenna. It works by dividing its customers' signals into five narrow parts, illustrated above by the color bands, upping the bandwidth by splitting traffic to each segment, enabling up to five times the data traffic. Ma Bell even used similar technology to craft a "super" multi-beam antenna, which expands the same idea into two rows of nine, possibly offering up to 18 times the speed of a typical single-tower arrangement. AT&T adds that this setup also reduces dropped calls and failed uploads, and is apparently already being put to use at live concerts and games. Not quite wrapping your head around it? Check the video after the break.

Continue reading AT&T reveals new multi-beam antenna tech for live events, could offer data speeds five times faster (video)

AT&T reveals new multi-beam antenna tech for live events, could offer data speeds five times faster (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.