GSA: 7 out of 8 WCDMA operators have launched HSDPA

People want faster data transfer speeds on their phones and it’s not a big surprise that carriers around the world are updating their 3G networks with HSDPA support. According to GSA’s (Global mobile Suppliers Association) recently published 3G/WCDMA-HSDPA Fact Sheet, 211 WCDMA operators have launched commercial services in 91 countries, of which 185 operators (87.6%) have also launched HSDPA.

HSDPA mobile broadband services are now commercially available in 80 countries, with 103 commercial HSDPA operators being located in Europe, 36 in APAC, 24 in the Middle East and Africa region, and 22 in the Americas.

An evolution is also taking place in uplink data speeds with HSUPA services being launched by 34 operators in 26 countries and 24 additional deployments on-going.

WCDMA-HSPA key facts according to GSA:

• 211 commercial WCDMA operators in 91 countries
• WCDMA technology in use by over 72% of 293 commercial 3G operators
• Over 179 million WCDMA subscribers (Q4 2007); 6.9 million monthly growth in H2 2007
• 80 million WCDMA subscriptions added in 2007 i.e. over 81% growth
• 220 HSDPA operator commitments in 92 countries; 185 operators launched
• 185 of 211 commercial WCDMA operators launched HSDPA – 87.6% = 7 out of 8
• 80 HSDPA operators commercially launched during 2007; annual growth of 80%
• Over 62% of commercial HSDPA operators support 3.6 Mbps peak or higher
• Over 20% of commercial HSDPA operators support 7.2 Mbps peak or higher
• 34 HSUPA operators commercially launched in 26 countries
• Over 1.1 billion GSM & WCDMA-HSDPA subscribers in HSDPA-enabled networks
• Over 800 WCDMA terminal devices launched in the market (October 2007)
• 403 HSDPA devices launched in the market by 80 suppliers (October 2007)

[Via: Mobile Europe]