Qualcomm’s HSPA+ reaches 20Mbps data speeds

The next big data network on everyone’s mind is the 4G LTE data networks that AT&T and Verizon are planning to launch in a few years in the US. Long Term Evolution (LTE) data networks are expected to usher in an age of 100+ Mbps data speeds, allowing for all sorts of bandwidth-intensive mobile features that are currently impossible. Until then, most of the world will have to make do with HSPA (HSDPA and HSUPA) data speeds capable of single-digit Mbps-speeds.

But, that doesn’t mean smartphone power users need to wait it out for HSPA to give way to LTE. The HSPA+ (HSPA Evolved) data standard promises to bring data transfer speeds in to the double-digit region. AT&T announced that they’ll be flipping the switch on their HSPA+ network by the end of 2009, lighting up the US with 20+ Mbps of sweet, sweet wireless data. And, to make that goal more than just a theoretical possibility, Qualcomm has announced that their HSPA+ trials have wrapped, after having hit the 20Mbps mark.

The Qualcomm hardware that made it all possible, the MDM8200, is shipping is shipping in samples to hardware manufacturers. The HSPA+ hardware should serve up 28Mbps on the downstream and 11Mbps on the upstream, while increasing battery life, reducing latency, and tripling voice-network capacity. And, HSPA+ is expected to peak with theoretical maximum speeds of 42-84Mbps on the downlink and 23Mbps on the uplink without the need for additional frequency spectrums – HSPA+ leverages current HSPA spectrum to do its bidding, making the HSPA Evolved network a financially obvious move for wireless carriers.

The trial “represents another milestone for Qualcomm in the evolution of the HSPA road map,” said Alex Katouzian, vice president of product management, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “End users will enjoy quicker connections to the Internet with HSPA+ while network operators will appreciate the opportunity to offer more services to their subscribers.”

What ever happened to Evolved EDGE?

Qualcomm