AT&T CTO: Problem? What Network Problem?

In a keynote address to attendees at the CTIA Wireless show Thursday, AT&T CTO John Donovan blamed rapid data growth for the service problems customers are lashing out about throughout the blogosphere.

Donovan acknowledged that he’s heard the many complaints about dropped calls, slow connections and other service-related issues, but he points to all of those smartphones – including iPhones – that are creating a traffic jam of sorts. According to cnet, he told the crowd, “I don’t base my network plans on what I read on blogs. No one knows more about the wireless data customer experience than AT&T.”

Donovan said AT&T has more of what he called “integrated devices” using his company’s network, so it’s less a problem with infrastructure than it is just too many people wanting too much data.

AT&T spent billions last year and this year on improving its wireless and wireline networks. Just today, the company said it has spent $50 million on 3G upgrades in the Dallas area alone over the past year and a half.