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By You thought your 21 megabits per second “4G” was fast? Nokia Siemens has submitted new specifications to the 3GPP for a standard called “Long Term HSPA Evolution”: LTHSPAE, affectionately. (But you better believe we won’t be calling it that.) Names aside, the standard defines a network that can reach theoretical speeds in excess of 650Mbps: still a long way from ITU’s “true 4G” specification of a network that can deliver 1Gbps of throughput through two stationary objects.
Still, 650Mbps is a hell of a lot more than 21. I keep mentioning 21 because it’s what T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network can theoretically deliver, but that may change in a few years as they’re supporting Siemens in development. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind being able to serve their current crop of “4G” customers with these speeds, either, because the standard is fully backward compatible with today’s HSPA and HSPA+ networks.
I wouldn’t expect to see the fruits of their labor to come to fruition until about the halfway point of the new decade, but it’s something to look forward to. Read on for full press details.
T-Mobile USA, Nokia Siemens Networks drive evolution of HSPA
Espoo, Finland – 15 December 2010
Mobile leaders promote standardization of Long Term HSPA Evolution to unleash speeds of more than 650 Mbps
Operators would be able to achieve peak data rates of more than 650 megabits per second (Mbps), thanks to an HSPA standard being driven by T-Mobile USA and Nokia Siemens Networks. Long Term HSPA Evolution would improve mobile broadband with speeds matching those promised by LTE Advanced. T-Mobile USA and Nokia Siemens Networks are driving the technology’s standardization aiming to make it available for commercial deployment by 2013.
The proposed key features of Long Term HSPA Evolution were accepted during the plenary meeting of 3GPP RAN held on 7-10 December, 2010*.
“We strongly believe in continued HSPA evolution in parallel to the further development of LTE and LTE Advanced,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, 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. As customer demand for wireless data increases, we are well positioned to compete based on the speed, breadth and evolution path of our mobile broadband service.”
“The demand for higher data rates and mobile broadband growth continues to push the need for advances in both HSPA and LTE technologies,” added Keith Sutton, head of the WCDMA business line for Nokia Siemens Networks. “We are thus equally committed to both technologies. As a leader in HSPA evolution, we have already demonstrated data rates exceeding 100 Mbps at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year. Today, we also have the largest number of HSPA customers with nearly 200 operators worldwide. Driving the standardization of the new technology is a natural extension of our efforts to realize the full potential of HSPA.”
Nokia Siemens Networks’ Single Radio Access Network (RAN) platform is already prepared for Long Term HSPA Evolution. Operators would have a smooth evolution path to handle increased network traffic along with controlling costs with the introduction of the new technology.
In addition, all Long Term HSPA Evolution features are backwards compatible and can be used together with existing WCDMA and HSPA mobiles on the same carriers.
cool beans! Some day we won’t need phones and it’ll just wire the info to our brains!
nokia sux
UTI’s True 4g specification is 1gbps? I thought it was 100mbps?
1gbps is for two stationary objects. 100mbps is for mobile I believe.
Could tmobile actually be fight for the nations fastest network ???
Nations fastest network?? More like the nations worst network for cell coverage……T mobiles coverage shows exactly why they are the 4th of 4 carriers in terms of size and reliability.
swazedahustla – Considering I just came back from a road trip through the American Southwest for two weeks (Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico) and never had any problems getting signal anywhere I would expect to reasonably get one, I’d say they aren’t as bad as you say they are.
@swaz I was skeptical of Tmob..but joined and have been very happy. I pay less than anyone I know and can even beat a 4G phone on a simultaneous download. HSPA is plenty fast and will only get faster. N1 owner.
wow, they’re talking about a new data connection, yet they can’t cover even half of the nation with the current 3g? before worrying about speeds, work on coverage and reliability. after you get the coverage, update it!
Yeah, 650Mbps for a mobile device WAY blows away the ITU standard for true 4G. 1 gig is for fixed objects.
If this is true, then it means true 4G will be coming a couple of years earlier than previously thought.
between LTHSPAE vs LTE, with LTE going to 1 Gig and LTHSPAE stopping maxing at 650 MB, other then the speed is there any other benefit that LTE provides over LTHSPAE?
Wow so if people acually give t-mobile a try they say its not as bad as you think? Who knew ;)
Plus I do believe AT&T holds the title for worst network in America ;)
People can we just make that abbreviation shorter? Lets just call it LTH+ much less of a hassle than LTHSPAE lol because HSPA Evolution is just HSPA+!
Yeah its not 1gb its 100mb. Can’t wait to see phones at that speed
another web page has the abbreviation as LTHE…that is enough to keep the masses confused:)
@mw: actually, I believe this is faster than LTE theoretical max speeds…someone will surely correct me if Im mistaken.
I’m getting really tired of all these people talkin about tmo’s network when they don’t even know that they actually have pretty decent coverage. You’re covered on the interstate almost always and you’re covered in cities. If you live in the boonies then tmo is just not for you, get over it. I pay less than you for more stuff most likely and you’re just mad about it.
Almost 3 years ago now.. drove big rig, T Mobile Razor phone.., and never, ever, did I not have phone service available when I needed it (I even broke down in the Oregon desert, and it worked). Their phone service has been vastly underrated. They were late to the party with 3G, and I got it when it had been rolled out in my area for about a week.. and although I am not doing the truck thing, I have always had 3G in the places I have traveled (with the exception of Europe where I was on Edge).. Now I am sure some guy in the boonies of Kansas or Wyoming is going to tell be to anyway, so I’ll STFU.. you win.. best of luck to you.
I’ve been a tmo customer for the past 2 years, previously before that I was a verizon customer for 6 years. Since I made the change the only difference I have seen is price. Data speed on my Vibrant on 2.1 dominates my friend’s drod x running 2.2 as well as the original droid on 2.2. Don’t sleep on tmo, I used to laugh and say they sucked until I switched.
LOL if you live in the boonies, TMO is not for you. HAAHAHAHHAHAHA
I think they may need to add that to their advertizing. Cause alot of those people who live in the boonies are NOT HAPPY. EPIC FAIL!!!