GSA Network Update Demonstrates HSPA+ Is Meeting Operator Needs To Deliver More Data

80 HSPA+ network commitments, 41 systems launched, 42 Mbps coming in 2010

February 10, 2010: Driven by the phenomenal global success of mobile broadband, mobile operators recognize the need to deliver huge and growing volumes of data across their networks as efficiently as possible. Widespread market acceptance of dongles for PCs, HSPA-enabled notebooks and the rapidly-growing smartphone segment has pushed data consumption to unprecedented levels. The outlook is one of continuing strong data traffic growth, flat or declining revenues in developed markets, the need to provide the best user experience of mobile broadband, and cost pressures.

The GSM/3G Network Update just published by the Global mobile Suppliers Association, (GSA), shows that HSPA Evolution (HSPA+) systems are meeting the challenge today by enabling network operators to deliver higher data performance and capacity at lower delivery cost. 80 HSPA+ network commitments provide the evidence of this trend.

The results from an industry survey organized last year by GSA provided an expectation that HSPA+ mobile broadband technology would enter the mainstream during 2010. GSA confirms this is now becoming reality as HSPA+ is now commercially launched on 13% of HSPA networks. Several more HSPA+ networks are scheduled to launch in the coming weeks and months. The eco-system includes 32 HSPA+ devices which have been announced by 11 suppliers.

Alan Hadden, President of GSA said: “Our Network Update shows that 41 HSPA+ systems have now entered commercial service in 26 countries, of which 36 support a peak downlink data speed of 21 Mbps and 5 systems support 28 Mbps. By the end of 2010 we predict there will be at least 100 HSPA+ networks in service around the world, and this figure will include systems with 42 Mbps peak downlink capability.”

LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the next step in the user experience and importantly brings the opportunity for additional spectrum, initially in the Digital Dividend bands (700 MHz, 800 MHz) and additionally 2.6 GHz in many regions. The first LTE systems entered commercial service in Stockholm and Oslo in December 2009, and up to 19 networks are expected to be in commercial service by end 2010. LTE will initially give comparable throughput capacity and performance, and will continue to improve and also benefit from larger bandwidth deployments, (up to 20 MHz).

The Network Update also refers to a paper by GSA on global sustainability entitled “Mobile Industry Actions Towards Sustainability.” The mobile communications industry is strongly committed to tackling the issues contributing to climate change, and this paper, a first for the GSA, provides an overview of a wide range of actions being undertaken by companies to become more energy efficient via sustainability programs. The report provides a number of examples highlighting a variety of measures which have been taken to reduce emissions, shows the progress to date, and includes proposals for achieving further reductions in the future. Future papers by GSA on the theme of sustainability will focus in more detail on some of the individual issues raised in this paper.

The Mobile Industry Actions Towards Sustainability paper is available to download at www.gsacom.com.

The GSM/3G Network Update (February 2010) is available as a free download at www.gsacom.com

Key Facts from the GSM/3G Network Update (February 2010) include:

325 WCDMA networks commercially launched in 135 countries
315 commercial HSPA networks in 133 countries
97% of WCDMA operators have launched HSPA
168 commercial HSPA networks (53.3%) support peak downlink data speed of 7.2 Mbps or higher
80 HSPA+ network commitments in 41 countries
41 HSPA+ networks commercially launched in 26 countries
98 HSUPA operators commercially launched in 52 countries
More than 31% of HSPA networks have launched HSUPA
2,137 HSPA devices launched; more than 67% growth YoY
The majority of HSPA devices support peak downlink data speed of 7.2 Mbps or higher
897 HSPA-capable phones including smartphones (over 74% growth YoY)
413 HSPA-enabled notebooks (over 51% growth YoY)
32 HSPA+ devices launched by 11 suppliers
503 GSM/EDGE network commitments in 195 countries
Over 68% of HSPA operators also launched GSM/EDGE
51 operators committed to LTE deployment, plus numerous trials in all regions
2 LTE systems are commercially launched

Data source: Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) research, surveys which are also available at www.gsacom.com

Media enquiries: press@gsacom.com

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