GSA Survey Confirms 637 HSPA Devices Launched and 150% Annual Growth

GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association, confirms a massive rise in the number of HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) devices introduced onto the market. GSA’s latest HSPA Devices Survey identifies 637 HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) products now launched, representing an annual growth of 150%. The number of suppliers increased from 62 to 110 in the same period. The survey incorporates product launch announcements at recent trade shows including CES, Mobile World Congress, CeBIT and CTIA.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: “Our latest survey confirms the rapidly expanding eco-system for HSPA and underlines how the HSPA market has developed much faster than other technologies. HSDPA networks entered commercial service 30 months ago; the number of HSDPA devices launched worldwide is over twice the number of GSM/EDGE devices and over six times the number of 3G/WCDMA devices had at the same point in their service development.”

While the majority of WCDMA-HSPA systems and devices operate in internationally designated 3G/IMT-2000 core band spectrum (2100 MHz), the 850 MHz frequency band as widely used throughout the Americas and in Australia is also well supported. This survey confirms 211 HSDPA devices operate in the 850 MHz band to facilitate the further expansion of mobile broadband services in these key growth markets. The survey notes that 145 tri-band 850/1900/2100 MHz WCDMA-HSDPA devices are launched, an increase of 70 in the past 6 months, which enables global roaming.

HSPA devices address all segments, with the following breakdown:

303 mobile phones
103 PC datacards (PC cards/embedded modules/chipsets)
103 notebooks
60 wireless routers
60 USB modems
7 Personal Media Players with HSDPA-connectivity
1 camera with HSDPA-connectivity

The number of HSUPA-capable (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) devices has doubled in 6 months. Today 66 devices support HSUPA operation, with the majority delivering up to 2.1 Mbps (peak) on the uplink, and 12 HSUPA products supporting or upgradeable for 5.76 Mbps (peak).

Almost 100 HSPA devices incorporate WLAN functionality. The survey confirms that 70 HSPA devices also incorporate GPS/positioning functionality, compared to 20 just 6 months ago.

GSA’s HSPA Operator Commitments Survey in March 2008 reported that 116 commercial HSDPA operators i.e. 62%, support downlink data speeds of 3.6 Mbps peak or higher, and 38 operators (over 20%) who had launched 7.2 Mbps peak or higher. 190 HSDPA devices support a downlink capability of 3.6 Mbps peak. 128 devices have been launched which support, or can be upgraded for a high-speed downlink capability of 7.2 Mbps peak.

The majority of HSPA operators have installed GSM/EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience. Device manufacturers are also supporting this requirement, with the survey showing that over 70% of HSPA devices also support GSM/EDGE.

WCDMA and HSPA are part of the evolutionary roadmap for GSM and the natural evolution path followed by GSM network operators worldwide. HSPA, the term that embraces HSDPA and HSUPA, is driving mobile broadband services globally and is supported by the largest and most developed mobile broadband eco-system, which includes the greatest number of user devices supporting all market segments and frequency combinations. Seven in every eight commercial 3G/WCDMA operators have launched HSPA, who throughout the world report strong subscription growth and increased profitably with HSPA.

View/download the GSA HSPA Devices Survey (April 3, 2008) key findings at http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/wcdma_databank.php4”:http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/wcdma_databank.php4

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

GSA HSPA Operator Commitments Survey published March 7, 2008 may be viewed/downloaded at www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/wcdma_databank.php4#HSDPA_Operator_Commitments

ABOUT GSA

GSA represents leading GSM/3G suppliers worldwide, with over 80% of GSM/3G market share globally. The member companies are Aeroflex, AnyDATA Inc, Broadcom, Business Logic Systems, Comsys Communication & Signal Processing, EDO-EVI, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, LSI Logic Corporation, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic, Talking Eye, and Telcordia.

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