Operators race to upgrade HSPA+
World now has 62 networks supporting 42Mbps DC-HSPA+, while PCCW is first to trial the 84Mbps iteration
Published: 7 February, 2012
READ MORE: Metrics | Infrastructure | HSDPA
LTE may get the headlines, but many carriers are primarily focused on pushing HSPA to its limits. Last week, Hong Kong's PCCW Mobile announced that it had conducted a network trial with Huawei, of the 84Mbps iteration of Dual Carrier HSPA+. The MIMO-enabled upgrade is cutting edge, with PCCW expecting to be the first to deploy it commercially this year. But 42Mbps DC-HSPA+ is gaining momentum. Huawei says it has deployed 25 commercial networks with this technology, while the GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) numbers 62 roll-outs worldwide.
As Daryl Schoolar of analyst firm Ovum points out: "LTE may be the ultimate network plan for most mobile operators, but HSPA+ alleviates the rush to deploy LTE. HSPA+ 84Mbps provides performance that is competitive with today's LTE networks. This can help an operator save on short term spectrum and infrastructure costs." Peak downlink speeds of 84Mbps are achieved with a combination of dual carrier, MIMO and 64QAM modulation.
Meanwhile, among a total of 483 operators in 181 countries which are deploying, or committed to, HSPA systems, 241 are now planning HSPA+ (21Mbps or above) - up 62% on a year earlier. There are 451 HSPA networks commercially launched in 174 countries and every W-CDMA carrier has commercially launched HSPA. Meanwhile, 187 HSPA+ systems have been commercially launched in 96 countries.
As for 42Mbps DC-HSPA+, which combines dual carrier with 64QAM, there are now 62 commercial roll-outs, up from 13 a year ago, and another 26 are in the works. Currently, though, there are only four phones which support 42Mbps HSPA+, compared to 27 for 21Mbps HSPA+. For devices as a whole, there are 245 supporting all commercial HSPA+ flavors, including 137 for 21Mbps, 14 for 28.8Mbps and 93 for 42Mbps DC-HSPA+. There is even a single device supporting the 84Mbps iteration.
More METRICS News
More INFRASTRUCTURE News
More LTE News
COMMENTS
Carrier Broadband Performance: Africa & Middle East
Carriers are using mobile broadband as their weapon of choice in the fight against the commoditization of voice and falling ARPU. This...
Voice over LTE: Market Analysis and Forecasts
VoLTE offer unique advantages in lowering a carrier's voice infrastructure economics and promises to improve voice quality, device...
Satellite Phones: Will Dual Mode Help the Phoenix Rise from the Ashes?
Satellite phones have followed an arduous path since their much-hyped launch more than a decade ago. The hype was followed by an e...
