GSA Confirms Accelerating Global Shift To Mobile Broadband With HSPA And Record Launches In Q4
2007-01-07 08:05:44 | Viewed 1247 times
Two new surveys by GSA - the Global mobile Suppliers Association, confirm the continuing strong progress of mobile broadband network deployments worldwide using HSDPA - High Speed Downlink Packet Access, and the rapidly expanding range and choices of user devices. HSDPA is the first evolution of WCDMA, delivering shorter service response times, faster downloads, and new services. Operators deploying HSDPA are able to offer advanced services at lower costs, and with increased revenues and profitability.
The GSA survey "HSDPA Operator Commitments" published on January 2, 2007 confirms 140 HSDPA networks in various stages of deployment in 64 countries, of which 93 have commercially launched in 51 countries. It means that HSDPA is today delivering commercial mobile broadband services in North and South America, throughout Europe (including 24 of the 27 EU nations), Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia.
According to the GSA survey, Q4 2006 saw a record number of HSDPA network launches, with 32 networks going live, compared to previous quarterly performances of 17 (Q3), 26 (Q2) and 16 (Q1). Cumulatively, 91 HSDPA networks entered commercial service during 2006, with 49 launching in the last 6 months. Several more HSDPA networks are expected to launch in the coming 12 months.
HSDPA is delivering typical user data speeds in the range of 800 kbps to 3 Mbps. The survey lists 28 networks supporting 3.6 Mbps (peak) and throughput rates will increase during 2007 with planned enhancements by many operators to 14.4 Mbps (peak). HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) complements HSDPA and provides many benefits to the mobile network operator including the possibility to offer data speeds up to 5.8 Mbps (peak) on the uplink channel. Together with HSDPA, it means a huge stride in network performance. First commercial deployments of HSUPA are expected in the coming months.
The survey also confirms that 63 out of the 140 operators deploying HSDPA are also relying on GSM/EDGE in their networks. Customers of 41 of the 93 commercially launched HSDPA networks can also receive their voice and data services using complementary GSM/EDGE access in areas, thus ensuring service continuity and the best user experience.
The related GSA survey "HSDPA Devices" - also published on January 2, 2007, identifies 128 user devices have been launched in the market, comprising 46 phones, 30 HSDPA-enabled notebooks, 41 PC datacards and USB modems, 10 wireless routers and 1 Personal Media Player. It confirms 50 new HSDPA-capable products were announced in the final 3 months of 2006, with the number of suppliers in the market growing from 27 to 39 in the same period. The majority of HSDPA devices also support GSM/EDGE.
Alan Hadden, President of GSA commented: "Our surveys confirm the major shift to mobile broadband networks enabled by HSDPA is market reality. This will continue as more operators launch their networks, and as new 3G licenses are issued in key growth markets in Latin America, Russia, India/Asia and Africa, for whom HSPA is the logical and compelling technology choice".
About GSA
GSA represents leading GSM/3G suppliers worldwide, with over 80% of GSM/3G market share globally. The member companies are Aeroflex, Agere, Broadcom, Business Logic Systems, CCww, Comsys Communication & Signal Processing, Ericsson, EDO-EVI, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Motorola TTPCom Product Group, Nokia, NXP Semiconductors, Openwave, Panasonic, Radixs, Siemens, Talking Eye, Tekelec, Telcordia, and Wavecom.
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