According to a new survey published today by GSA - the Global mobile Suppliers Association, 68 HSDPA networks commercially launched during 2007, representing annual growth of 69%. GSA's latest HSDPA Operator Commitments survey confirms there are 166 commercial HSDPA networks in 75 countries. HSDPA-enabled mobile broadband services extended to 24 new countries during the year. A further 38 networks are committed to HSDPA rollout, to reach a total of 204 HSDPA Operator commitments in 89 countries.

HSDPA is now widely commercially available throughout the APAC region (35 networks), Western Europe (61 networks), Eastern Europe (34 networks), Middle East and Africa (20 networks) and the Americas and Caribbean (16 networks).

An evolution is also taking place in uplink data speeds. 51 operators have committed to HSUPA, and 26 networks have commercially launched HSUPA service in 22 countries. All the HSUPA launches took place during 2007, with 24 launches occurring in the past 6 months.

HSPA - Key Facts:

• 204 HSDPA Operator commitments in 89 countries/territories
• 166 commercial HSDPA launches in 75 countries; 69% annual growth
• Over 62% of commercial HSDPA networks have launched with downlink capability of 3.6 Mbps peak or higher data speeds
• 114 HSDPA networks evolving to 3.6 Mbps peak fast broadband speed or higher, of which 103 networks supporting 3.6 Mbps peak or higher downlink speeds have commercially launched in 52 countries
• 35 HSDPA networks supporting 7.2 Mbps peak or higher have commercially launched in 24 countries
• 51 operators have committed to HSUPA with 26 HSUPA networks today commercially launched in 22 countries
• 122 of 204 HSDPA networks (59.8%) combine with GSM/EDGE for service continuity
• 94 of 166 commercially launched HSDPA networks (56.6%) have also commercially launched EDGE

Posted to the site on 9th January 2008

Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/28500.php