Huawei claims lead in 21Mbps HSPA devices

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 10 December 2008 02:40

Business IT - Technology

Telstra and Sierra Wireless have demonstrated 21 Mbps HSPA devices on Telstra's network, but Sierra admits there is much work to be done before its devices are ready for commercial service. Huawei, however is claiming to have demonstrated "the world's first commercial ready HSPA+ [21Mbps] devices," on PCCW's network in Hong Kong.


In reality the two are probably running neck and neck. Although Huawei said it was announcing "the successful completion of the world’ s first live demonstration of a commercially ready HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access) network and device," its press release later said, "Huawei’s HSPA+ [network equipment] and HSPA+ mobile broadband terminal E182E will be ready for full commercial use [on PCCW's network] in the early part of 2009."

On the day Telstra demonstrated Sierra Wireless' 21Mbps device on its network, at its investor day briefing on 6 November, Sierra Wireless CEO, Jason Cohenour, told iTWire that much work remained to be done before the device was ready to go on sale, and he said Telstra was pushing its suppliers hard to enable it to deliver the higher speeds.

"This was a very early demonstration. This is a very cutting edge development effort we are undergoing with Telstra, Ericsson and Qualcomm in preparation for launch of services next year...I wouldn't describe it as even being at alpha yet...Telstra is the kind of operator that likes to push the envelope and be first to market with services."

He added" "Telstra will be doing customer trials in December...We have lots more field testing to do, and more firmware development."

Beyond HSPA at 21Mbps Telstra is planning to upgrade its network to deliver broadband at a, theoretical, maximum speed of 42Mbps and is looking to Long Term Evolution (LTE) beyond that. Supplier Ericsson demonstrated LTE network equipment in Sydney in September but its terminal was a two metre high box of electronics.

Now, LG Electronics says it has independently developed the first LTE handset modem chip. It claims to have demonstrated the chip at its Mobile Communication Technology Research Lab in Anyang, Korea, achieving wireless download speeds of 60Mbps and upload speeds of 20Mbps.