3G HSDPA Market Reality as 70 Operators Commit

US : The path to the mobile broadband, which began with GSM/EDGE and WCDMA, has moved to a new baseline with High Speed Packet Access, starting with High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), delivering typical user data speeds of 1-3 Mbps. 3G/WCDMA operators globally are moving to HSDPA now.

A survey by GSA published today "HSDPA Operator Commitments" identifies 70 network operators who have confirmed interest in deploying HSDPA systems, reflecting an increase of 40% over the past 4 months. The survey also confirms that the majority of the 102 operators who have commercially launched 3G/WCDMA services have also committed to deploy HSDPA in their networks.

HSDPA is market reality today. Recent announcements have raised the number of HSDPA commercial networks to 8, with dozens more expected in 2006.

GSA recently confirmed a rapidly expanding range and availability of HSDPA-capable user devices (PC datacards, phones, and embedded laptop modules) with 25 devices launched in the market, more than double the figure of 6 months ago.

HSDPA is the first evolution of 3G/WCDMA. The primary benefit of HSDPA is improved end-user experience. Several existing services benefit from HSDPA capabilities, while new services are enabled. For example, the mobile office experience dramatically improves, as does voice and video over IP applications, interactive gaming, push to talk/push to X services, and faster video and music downloads and file transfers.

No new spectrum/carrier is needed to roll out HSDPA in the network. At present, WCDMA can provide voice and data services on the same carrier simultaneously. This also applies to HSDPA.

Most WCDMA networks in Europe and beyond are expected to have activated the HSDPA upgrade by end 2006 for delivering the high speed mobile broadband experience.

GSA surveys "HSDPA Operator Commitments" and "HSDPA Devices" are available for download from the GSA home page www.gsacom.com

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