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Half of the HSPA networks in commercial service around the world can manage peak downlink data speeds of 7.2 Mbits/s or higher, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). The group’s HSPA Operator Commitments Survey confirms 316 HSPA network commitments in 129 countries. A total of 274 operators have commercially launched HSPA mobile broadband services in 115 countries, with about half of them supporting a peak downlink data speed of 7.2 Mbits/s of higher.

WCDMA has more than 73% of the market share of commercial 3G networks worldwide. Almost 95% of WCDMA operators have now launched HSPA. A related GSA survey confirms that 183 manufacturers have launched 1605 HSPA devices. The number of announced products increased by more than 121% year-on-year. The number of HSPA-enabled notebooks tripled year-on-year, with the number of phones and smart phones rising by more than 88% in the same period. Excluding notebooks, 595 HSPA products (over 46%) support peak downlink data speeds of 7.2 Mbits/s or more.

Evolved HSPA (HSPA+) increases data rates by using higher-order modulation schemes and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology. 3GPP Release 7 introduced 64QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation), increasing the downlink peak data bit rate by 50% to 21 Mbits/s. In the uplink, 16QAM doubles to peak data bit rate from 5.76 Mbits/s to 11.5 Mbits/s. Release 8 allows for combining 64QAM with 2-by-2 MIMO for peak rates up to 42 Mbits/s downlink and 11.5 Mbits/s uplink (per 5-MHz carrier). Further evolution will use combinations of multicarrier and MIMO to reach peak rates of 84 Mbits/s downlink and 23 Mbits/s uplink.

Almost 40 operators have committed to HSPA+ network deployments. The world’s first HSPA+ network launched in February 2009, with 10 HSPA+ systems now operating via 64QAM to deliver 21-Mbit/s peak data throughput on the downlink for a typical user experience up to 8 Mbits/s, depending on device availability. The world’s first HSPA+ system using MIMO technology also has been launched in Italy, boosting peak downlink data throughput up to 28 Mbits/s. The recent GSA HSPA devices survey confirmed that eight HSPA+ user devices already are on the market.

Uplink data speeds also are increasing, as 98 operators have committed to HSUPA, with 87 networks now commercially launched, and more of these networks support 5.8-Mbit/s peak data throughput. The number of HSUPA user devices announced by manufacturers has more than quadrupled over the past year, now totaling 305. About a third (102) of these devices support or are upgradeable for 5.8-Mbit/s operation, compared to only 14 products in July 2008.

Earlier, the GSA announced that 31 operators are committed to LTE network deployments, which will significantly boost network throughputs further, improve spectrum and operational efficiencies and performance, and reduce latency for the next step in the user experience. GSA expects up to 12 LTE networks to be in commercial service by the end of 2010. For more information, see the WCDMA-HSPA and LTE Fact Sheet, available for free at www.gsacom.com.