T-Mobile USA announced plans to upgrade its national 3G wireless network to High-Speed Packet Access Plus, or HSPA+, demonstrating what it touts as the fastest 3G wireless network in the U.S. at the International CTIA Wireless 2010 trade show in Las Vegas yesterday. T-Mobile expects to have HSPA+ deployed across its national footprint by the end of this year, covering more than 100 metro areas and 185 million people.
Using a variety of new mobile broadband devices–including Dell’s Inspiron Mini 10 netbook, its own webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick, the HTC HD2 handset, the Motorola CLIQ XT, and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G–the company demonstrated what it claims are wireless network speeds up to 3x faster than competing 3G networks at CTIA. That equates to about 7 Mbps, although, theoretically HSPA+ networks can go as high as 21 Mbps. T-Mobile is real coy about promising actual speeds, preferring to use language like “3X faster than typical 3G.”
Having launched its HSPA+ in Philadelphia last fall. T-Mobile now has it up and running in major areas of New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and suburban Washington D.C. An L.A. rollout is expected soon. The company is also busy installing the backhaul capacity required to provide the high-speed transmission speeds it needs to deliver on performance capabilities it’s promised.
“Consumers want a mobile broadband experience that’s easy and as good as their connection at home on the best wireless devices available,” said Neville Ray, senior vice president of engineering and operations for T-Mobile USA. “This year T-Mobile will upgrade its national 3G network to HSPA+ which will support faster speeds and give customers a superior wireless data experience when they access their mobile social network, stream videos or share content. T-Mobile’s network is primed to deliver the speeds that today’s data users crave.”
