Between today’s 3G networks and the next generation LTE and WiMAX networks that are going to start turning on over the next few years, there is a middle ground technology that provides users with the increased bandwidth users want, and at the same time is attractive to operators since in most cases it requires a simple software upgrade. We’re talking about HSPA+. The difference between HSPA and HSPA+ is simple. HSPA maxes out at 14.0 Mbps, while HSPA+, using different modulation techniques and stuff so advanced that even I don’t understand, brings that maximum speed up to 42 Mbps.
For operators, how exactly do you go about marketing this? T-Mobile is getting shit thrown at them by AT&T, who say that calling a 21 Mbps HSPA+ network “4G” is disingenuous. But is it really? If Sprint is advertising their WiMAX network as “4G” and promising around 6 to 10 Mbps down, and T-Mobile, using 3G technology (albeit advanced 3G technology) can deliver the same speeds, then isn’t it fair game?
I’m used to Finland, where you buy mobile broadband like you do fixed line broadband, i.e. if you want more speed, you spend more money. America doesn’t really have that yet, and maybe they should. Infonetics Research spoke to 17 international operators, and found that 82% of them plan on deploying LTE. Of those 53% plan to deploy HSPA+ before going down the LTE path. Of the people deploying LTE, half think that they’ll be able to offer their customers speed ranging from 20 Mbps to 50 Mbps, while the other half plan on giving their customers over 50 Mbps of bandwidth. And again, over half the operators deploying LTE say that they don’t plan to offer voice over their LTE networks for at least a year after they commercially launch their networks.
So when will LTE come to a city near you? Two thirds of the operators who spoke to Infonetics Research said 2012 to 2014 is the most realistic time frame. That’s in line with what I’m predicting, what Dean Bubley predicted during the interview I had with him, and with what I’m hearing other people in the industry say.