From the Telstra Website:
Telstra has become the first operator in the world to test HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology outside of vendor laboratories. I’m pleased to say, in the closed test environment we’re seeing an average of 36Mbps download speeds, bursting to 40Mbps.
Right now we are carrying out these first tests of High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) using Dual Carrier technology on our Next G™ closed test network, using Qualcomm’s MDM8220™ chipset. Our tests are in conjunction with our strategic partner, Ericsson, which has seen similar success in laboratory conditions in Sweden this week.
HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology is designed to an engineering standard of peak network downlink speeds of 42Mbps. The speeds achieved during our test – on a dedicated, closed test network – highlight that the technology can indeed deliver speeds approaching that specification. In real world conditions actual customer download speeds will always be less than 42Mbps.
Our tests so far indicate that once the technology is deployed onto our live network, we expect customers with a compatible device in selected areas will experience speeds around double that of today’s typical user experience using a HSPA+ device.
Further to this testing, we are on track to deploy software capable of supporting HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology in the Next G™ network by the end of the year. No other carrier in Australia today can even come close to offering such advanced technology on a mobile broadband network.
New devices compatible with the HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology and allowing customers to experience enhanced download speeds are expected to be available later in 2010. Telstra is already working with Qualcomm and Sierra Wireless to bring these devices to market.
The Next G™ network has already changed the way Australians live and work with its speed, capacity and coverage. What we are discovering with the HSPA+ Dual Carrier tests is a super fast mobile broadband solution that, once available for commercial launch and once compatible devices are available, will deliver meaningful speed, capacity and efficiency improvements on the network.
