Mobile Broadband Jargon Buster
With all new technologies you’ll inevitably have to learn a whole new batch of strange acronyms . The world of mobile broadband is no different. You’ve probably seen or heard of HSDPA, HSUPA and LTE. But what do these cryptic terms mean?
A Very Brief History Of HSDPA
3G technology has been around since the late 1990′s. In 2002, the Third Generation Partner Project (3GPP), a body of telecoms groups, introduced the specification for a high speed data protocol for use over a 3G mobile phone network. This would allow wireless networks to carry data at speeds of up to 14.4Mbps. This high speed data protocol is known as HSDPA.
HSDPA
High Speed Download Packet Access HSDPA allows mobile phone operators to offer their users much greater bandwidth speeds and makes general improvements to the mobile web browsing experience. The term ‘mobile broadband’ or ’3.5G’ is often used to denote HSDPA services and devices. HSDPA supports download speeds of up to 14.4Mbps. This compares very favourably to landline based ADSL connections in the UK.
However, in reality, average HSDPA connections are much lower than advertised. Currently Vodafone have the fastest HSDPA network, theoretically capable of 7.2 Mbps but in reality averaging at 1.2Mbps, according to a recent study on 3G mobile broadband in the UK.
All the UK mobile operators are currently investing in their existing 3G networks to incorporate the higher 3.5G bandwidth requirements.
HSUPA
High Speed Uplink Packet Access
One of the downsides to HSDPA is that the maximum upload speed is a meagre 384Kbps. This can be frustrating when trying to send large email attachments or posting video or podcasts. A new protocol, HSUPA was introduced in 2004 to improve upon this. Capable of upload speeds of 5.76Mbps, resulting in real world speeds of up to 2Mbps, this is still a vast improvement.
Vodafone UK utilizes HSDPA for downloads and HSUPA (when available) for uploads. HSUPA is available in some parts of the UK but it’s coverage is unlikely to extend as far as the HSDPA network.
HSPA
High Speed Packet Access
HSPA is the collective name for the family of 3.5G standards which include HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+. Confusingly, mobile operators are also using a host of other terms to describe what is essentially HSPA technology. For example, mobile operator Three calls its HSDPA network ‘Turbo’.
HSPA+
High Speed Packet Access Plus (Aka Evolved)
HSPA+ or Evolved HSPA offers 44Mbps down-link and 22Mbps up-link speeds. There are currently no UK mobile networks offering HSDPA+, (update Vodafone trialling HSPA+ in UK link)
The Future….LTE
Okay, one more acronym for you. LTE or the Long Term Evolution project. According to a Sony Ericsson white paper in 2007 LTE offers a “superior user experience and simplified technology for next generation mobile broadband”
LTE is fourth generation , or “4G” technology and the 3GPP specification for LTE, finalized in Jan 2008, allows for a staggering 326 Mbps downloads and 86Mbps upload speeds. As with most protocols, the speeds that are likely to be realised in domestic homes would be somewhat lower, and nearer to 100Mbps.
LTE stands a good chance being adopted as a standard because it can utilize the existing HSPA mobile broadband infrastructure. LTE will be a few years coming before its hits British shores but watch out for this next leap for mobile broadband.
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[...] plans to invest £1.5 million in improving its broadband fibre optic network. It is thought that LTE mobile broadband, (also called 4G) might come into fruition before BT completes its improvement [...]
[...] placing high demands on the mobile networks of the future. LTE offers numerous benefits over 3G and HSPA networks for consumers and the mobile operators, including faster data speeds and reduced costs. [...]
It’s all about 4G connections in the future. Then streaming TV and films should be easier!