[3g-g]

Taken from zdnet, you can read the original here. (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/3ggprs/0,39020339,39197006,00.htm)

If O2 can pull this off will they be the network of choice for the data users among us?


Mobile workers should be able to access much faster 3G mobile services next year in some parts of the UK, if operators keep to their current plans for the rollout of HSDPA services.

HSDPA — dubbed Super 3G by some — is an enhancement of existing UMTS 3G technology. It offers the promise of download speeds of 3Mbps compared to the 384Kbps of Europe's UMTS networks today, and could rival WiMax — another high-speed wireless technology that is causing plenty of excitement in the mobile industry.

O2 will test HSPDA on the Isle of Man this summer and Dave Williams, O2's chief technology officer, is confident that these trials will lead to commercial deployment in the UK, Ireland and Germany in 2006.

"HSDPA has at least a two-year lead on mobile WiMax," Williams told ZDNet UK, pointing out that 802.16e, the mobile flavour of WiMax, isn't standardised yet.

O2 isn't planning to make HSDPA available across the whole of its existing 3G network, though.

"It will be on offer in hotspot-type areas — lots in London, initially, and then we'll build out from there," said Williams, explaining that the first areas to get 3G will be those where data consumption is highest today.

Vodafone and T-Mobile have both said they are also planning to offer HSDPA in 2006, and Orange is also trialling the technology. Vodafone has predicted that HSDPA could eventually offer download speeds of 12Mbps.

But research published earlier this week by Informa Telecoms & Media suggests that HSDPA could be hamstrung by a lack of compatible handsets.

"Despite early predictions from Samsung, LG and NEC of handsets becoming available from the end of 2005, HSDPA-enabled handsets are only likely to appear commercially in large volumes from mid-2006 onwards, forcing operators to limit their launches to datacard users in the initial stages," predicted John Everington, a senior analyst with Informa.

O2's Isle of Man trials involve datacards, limiting their use to laptops.

[Ben]

Hotspots? It's a software upgrade for them, and they're doing it as hotspots? Crikey, is their current 3G coverage not thin enough!? Come on O2, pull your finger out!

I'm thoroughly unimpressed. :) Hell would have to freeze over for them to be my network of choice for data at this rate.

[getti]

HSPDA is going to be BIG!. Video Calling will have no delays and downloads will be even quicker.

O2 are adding this to all their base stations which is why they started late and only have 32% coverage.

Orange have also been testing HSPDA abroad. Just imagine though a DoCoMo style handset with I-Mode and 1mb data rate!! looks like O2 will get it

[Ben]

"O2 are adding this to all their base stations which is why they started late and only have 32% coverage."

Yes, that's what they were saying - now they're saying they will first enable HSDPA in certain 'hotspot' areas only. When you've only got 32% coverage, surely everywhere is a hotspot! Why on earth they are just starting in London is beyond me - all of their 3G masts need to be running HSDPA for it to even be a blip on the radars of the other networks.

O2 are dithering.

[bsrjl1]

It's not just a software update - anything that messes around with the modulation scheme means changing the Tx/Rx hardware.

[Ben]

O2 deliberately delayed their 3G rollout until HSDPA-ready hardware was available - for them it's just a software update. On the other networks, you're absolutely right, hardware needs to be changed too.

[bsrjl1]

But O2 are using Nokia Node Bs in the UK, just like 3, Orange & T-Mobile. I guess they'll use the Isle of Man trial network for HSDPA, but then they'll have to retrofit/upgrade all their existing Node Bs on the mainland.

[3g-g]

O2 are rolling out Nortel Node Bs, I've seen them on site. They'll be fully HSDPA ready as far as I'm aware.

[Ben]

Indeed, their CEO and random other officials confirmed it in a talk they did - there's a webcast of it somewhere, Dan has a link. It's rather long, but very very interesting.

[3g-g]

My other understanding was that 3 have NEC node B equipment in the South, and it's Nokia in the north... that's definately the way is was when they launched at least.

[Jon3G]

Maybe o2's plan was not that daft after all. I hope they do because I have o2 for my business phone/PDA and would really like the extra bandwidth.

WOW 12Mbps now that would be heaven

[bsrjl1]

Yes 3 still have a Nokia/NEC RAN split. Didn't realise O2 had used Nortel as well, should be interesting.