More deploying HSDPA

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 8 January 2007

It’s clear from the latest Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) surveys that more and more mobile network operators are deploying High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA).

According to the GSA 32 HSDPA networks launched in the last quarter of last year compared to 16 that launched in the first quarter. There are also a 140 HDSPA networks in 64 countries with 93 already commercially active in a total of 51 countries.

GSA President, Alan Hadden, said that their surveys “confirm the major shift to mobile broadband networks enabled by HSDPA is market reality…”

Why should a mobile network operator be interested in deploying HSDPA?

Here are some of the reasons:

• Greater user data speeds – Speeds of 800 kbps to 3.6 Mbps is already possible which will move up to 14.4 Mbps as enhancements are made to some networks during 2007. HSDPA’s twin brother, HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access), which complements HSDPA will provide even more benefits ‘including the possibility to offer data speeds up to 5.8 Mbps (peak) on the uplink channel’ (HSDPA continues global growth, 4 January 2006). It is estimated that HSUPA will be commercially deployed for the first time in the coming months.

• Increase in range of devices – HDSPA makes it possible to offer a wider range of high tech user devices to consumers. No less than a 128 user devices have been launched recently ‘comprising 46 phones, 30 HSDPA-enabled notebooks, 41 PC datacards and USB modems, ten wireless routers and one Personal Media Player’ (HSDPA continues global growth, 4 January 2006).

• Increased revenues and profitability – HDSPA enables mobile network operators ‘to offer advanced services at lower costs, and with increased revenues and profitability’ (HSDPA continues global growth, 4 January 2006).

Well, it’s clear that HSDPA and its twin brother HSUPA, are going to play an increasingly important rule in the life of consumers over the next couple of months and more. Expect better, faster and hopefully cheaper user devices.

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) welcomes mobile network operators’ eagerness to deploy HDSPA, which will result in real benefits on both sides of the fence.