Nokia Siemens touts new 650Mbps HSPA standard as LTE-A alternative

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 16 December 2010 16:22

Business IT - Technology

Nokia Siemens Networks, in conjunction with US mobile operator T-Mobile, has submitted a proposal for a new HSPA standard that would deliver downstream bandwidths up to 650Mbps. Although the LTE and LTE-Advanced standards provide a clear roadmap to 1Gbps, Nokia Siemens says it is important to maintain a migration path to higher bandwidths for HSPA.

Somewhat inappropriately they have co-opted the LTE (Long Term Evolution) moniker for their proposed standard, calling it "Long Term HSPA Evolution." However it is an HSPA technology, not an LTE technology.

According to Nokia Siemens, the key features of the technology were accepted during the plenary meeting of the Radio Access Network group of global cellular standards body, 3GPP the technology available for commercial deployment by 2013.

"We strongly believe in continued HSPA evolution in parallel to the further development of LTE and LTE Advanced," said Neville Ray, chief technology officer of T-Mobile USA. ''Long Term HSPA Evolution will allow us to enhance our 4G mobile broadband network beyond its current and planned near term capabilities, and provide room for considerable growth and speed enhancements."

Keith Sutton, head of the WCDMA business line for Nokia Siemens Networks, added: "The demand for higher data rates and mobile broadband growth continues to push the need for advances in both HSPA and LTE technologies. We are thus equally committed to both technologies."

A white paper on LTE HSPA Evolution explains the key principles underpinning the proposed standard.