31st July - The latest “HSDPA Devices” survey by GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association, confirms a huge rise in the number of user devices now available for the rapidly expanding mobile broadband services market enabled by HSPA ( High Speed Packet Access ). The GSA survey, published on July 26th, 2007 confirms that 311 HSDPA-capable devices are launched in the market, which is over 6 times the number reported in a similar GSA survey one year ago ( 50 HSDPA devices, July 31, 2006 ). The number of suppliers increased from 16 to 71 in the same period.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said “We have been reporting on HSDPA device developments since May 2005, at which time just 12 products were announced. 183 new devices have been launched so far in 2007. The milestone we announce today of 100 devices operating in the 850 MHz band is an important catalyst for extending HSPA to all markets across the Americas.”

The range of devices identified in this latest survey addresses all market segments:

137 mobile phones
64 PC datacards ( PC cards and embedded modules )
51 notebooks
32 Wireless Routers
23 USB modems
3 Personal Media Players with HSDPA-connectivity
1 camera with HSDPA-connectivity

63 HSDPA devices support, or can be upgraded to, a high-speed downlink capability of 3.6 Mbps peak, in support of network downlink speed evolution. GSA’s latest “HSDPA Operator Commitments” survey ( www.gsacom.com/news/gsa_227.php4 ) confirmed the continuing trend of network data speed evolution and identified 66 operators who had commercially launched or are deploying 3.6 Mbps ( peak ) data capability in their networks as the first phase of a planned evolution to 14.4 Mbps ( peak ) for many operators by end 2007. Some networks now offer 7.2 Mbps ( peak ) commercial service. 42 devices support, or can be upgraded to, a high-speed downlink capability of 7.2 Mbps peak.

The majority of 3G/WCDMA-HSPA systems operate in the internationally designated IMT-2000 core band spectrum of 1920 to 1980 MHz paired with 2110 to 2170 MHz ( referred to as the 2100 band ). A total of 100 WCDMA-HSDPA devices have been launched which operate in the 850 MHz frequency band as currently used for commercial WCDMA-HSPA services in the Americas and Australia. 87 devices support the 850/1900 MHz frequency combination. WCDMA-HSDPA devices are increasingly capable of tri-band operation, i.e. 850/1900/2100 MHz enabling global roaming, and 70 tri-band WCDMA-HSDPA devices are now launched.

At least 24 devices support, or can be upgraded for, HSUPA ( High Speed Uplink Packet Access ), initially delivering 2.1 Mbps ( peak ) for the uplink direction. HSUPA has commercially launched on mobile networks in Asia and Europe so far this year.

GSA recently reported that over half of all commercially launched HSDPA networks have also commercially launched GSM/EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience of mobile broadband services. Manufacturers are supporting this requirement, and the GSA survey confirms over 70% of HSDPA devices are multi-mode, supporting the GSM/EDGE functionality.

The “3G/HSDPA Devices survey ( July 26th, 2007 ) is available at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/wcdma_databank.php4#HSDPA_Devices

The survey “HSDPA Operator Commitments – July 25, 2007” is available at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/wcdma_databank.php4#HSDPA_Operator_Commitments

Charts showing HSDPA devices growth, segmentation, operator launches, etc. are available at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4