HSDPA shines at 3GSM

Most 3GSM networks in Europe and beyond are expected to activate the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) upgrade by the end of 2006 and the imminent arrival of HSDPA was underscored at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, with every major vendor demonstrating the technology. Test equipment suppliers also unveiled their solutions for testing both HSDPA and HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access). Ian Channing provides a wrap-up of developments.

Ericcson showcased its commercial HSDPA system which supports downlink speeds of to 3.6Mbit/s with pre-commercial devices from several vendors. Although the system will support this higher speed, Ericcson said the maximum speed for commercial devices today was 1.8 Mbit/s. However, Mikael Back , Ericsson`s Vice President of WCDMA Radio Network claimed the company was only “a step away from an easy software upgrade that will allows speeds of up to 14.4 Mbits/s”.

With its partners Novatel wireless and Samsung, alcatel was showing HSDPA wireless data calls at 3.6Mbit/s using Samsung handsets and similar services with Novatel’s PC data cards. Alcatel said current HSDPA solution supports all terminal categories defined by 3GPP, including Categories 8 and 10 (7.2Mbit/s and 14.4Mbit/s) from day one, without any need for network modification.

Lucent Technologies announced that it was participating in interoperability trials designed to ensure that end-users will be able to share video services across 3G networks based on UMTS/HSDPA technology, and also will be able to exchange video with users on fixed networks.