T-Mobile Upgrading Its 3G Network to HSPA+

The head of engineering at T-Mobile USA has promised that his company is in the process of dramatically upgrading the speed of its mobile broadband network.

For several years, T-Mobile ran behind its competitors in offering 3G services, but recently has become much more aggressive. It's HSDPA network is still being rolled out around the U.S. and this carrier is already starting to bring the next-generation service online.

According to Neville Ray, T-Mobile USA's senior VP for engineering and operations, HSPA+ services will be available across the country next year, and they are already in place in Philadelphia.

Under ideal conditions, HSPA+ offers downloads at up to 42 Mbit/s and 22 Mbit/s uploads. Its deployment should give T-Mobile a faster network than some of its rivals, like AT&T, who plans to have a 7.2 Mbit/s HSPA in place across the U.S. by the end of 2010.

Looking Ahead
T-Mobile doesn't plan to stop there -- it's already planning the move to the 4G service LTE.

However, Ray stopped short of talking about a possible timetable. "We will be an LTE house at some point in time, but it depends on how this path develops."

It is joining other carriers who are working on LTE networks, including AT&T and Verizon. Sprint has picked a different 4G standard, WiMAX.

Source: Fierce Wireless