Has AT&T
The Apple
While dropping the iPhone deal would certainly alleviate the pressure on AT&T's radio towers, Ma Bell is working hard on some much-needed network upgrades as well. The company just selected Alcatel-Lucent
Not today, though. The actual upgrades won't roll out until 2011, giving AT&T haters ample time to bemoan the problems they see today. That also means you'll have time to invest in wireless infrastructure leaders Ericsson and Alcatel if you see them benefiting from a co-exclusive supplier deal with the largest network in North America. Ericsson also handles support and services for the new 4G installations, which probably means the Swedes get the lion's share of this contract.
AT&T is running about a year behind archrival Verizon
Of course, you'll need a 4G-capable iPhone in order to fully appreciate AT&T's new networks, so there's another upsell for Apple. By and large, AT&T is keeping up with the Verizons (Joneses?), and I'd be very surprised if the company didn't renew its exclusive iPhone deal for another handful of years.