World first in HSPA+ and dual carrier technology
Filed under: business, gadgets and gizmos, innovation, networks, news
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.
I dont think speed is the issue any more guys it is latency. What advantages does Dual Carrier technology offer in reducing latency?
Will this fix the issue of pilot pollution for me ? I live in Scullin ACT and have an unusable NextG service due to too many NextG towers in my area.
“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.”
So what can we expect, 4mbps times 2 = 8mbps?
Unless the price comes down, Nextg wont ever come near other Carriers in affordabilty..
When the ‘real world’ speeds get to around the same as the average ADSL2+ sync speed , you are on a real winner there, with the correct pricing.
Regards,
Peter.
First off the required disclaimer, I am a Telstra employee but any comment I make is my own opinion. I am certainly not authorised to speak on behalf of the company.
paul said “Unless the price comes down, Nextg wont ever come near other Carriers in affordabilty..”
Carriers must determine the market segments they wish to target compete for.
Telstra has chosen to provide a premium service with higher data speeds with broader and deeper coverage.
More bases and leading technology costs more to provide and so is priced accordingly.
In my opinion, there is not a lot of point buying the latest and greatest 3G technology if you are never in 3G coverage when you need it.
A comparison of realworld Recent Speedtests.
You be the Judge
Optus WP Speedtests
Your line speed is 2.89 Mbps (2891 kbps).
Your line speed is 4.79 Mbps (4793 kbps).
Your line speed is 4.58 Mbps (4580 kbps)
Your line speed is 3.55 Mbps (3546 kbps).
Your line speed is 3.22 Mbps (3219 kbps).
Your line speed is 2.42 Mbps (2418 kbps).
Your line speed is 1.83 Mbps (1834 kbps
Your line speed is 4.13 Mbps (4133 kbps)
Your line speed is 3.47 Mbps (3468 kbps).
Your line speed is 2.26 Mbps (2262 kbps).
Your line speed is 5.86 Mbps (5865 kbps)
Your line speed is 2.08 Mbps (2082 kbps)
Your line speed is 2.88 Mbps (2882 kbps)
NextG WP Speedtests
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=943314&p=27
Your line speed is 97 kbps (0.1 Mbps).
Your line speed is 1.62 Mbps (1624 kbps).
Your line speed is 208 kbps (0.21 Mbps).
Your line speed is 72 kbps (0.07 Mbps).
Your line speed is 3.15 Mbps (3153 kbps)
Your line speed is 3.06 Mbps (3059 kbps).
Your line speed is 2.32 Mbps (2318 kbps)
Your line speed is 1.8 Mbps (1796 kbps).
Your line speed is 4.71 Mbps (4705 kbps).
Your line speed is 3.52 Mbps (3517 kbps).
Your line speed is 2.85 Mbps (2850 kbps).
Your line speed is 1.51 Mbps (1512 kbps).
Your line speed is 1.65 Mbps (1652 kbps)
You be the Judge
I occasionally find myself giving up on my NextG latop and jumping on my wife’s ADSL2 laptop because I get a message saying server is down or whatever (when it’s not!). The real problem seems to be lack of capacity. Coverage is one thing but without capacity the speeds will slow and eventually clog. Double zero is still zero. On the bright side this is an exciting technical advance and over time I expect we’ll build robustness into the network. On pricing: pitching Telstra as premium and elitist is a recipe for ruin. We should be able to offer a product that is so good with pricing so attractive it is irresistable to all customers. This doesn’t mean undercut everybody but I think a few people, probably DINKs and other high incomes, need to take a reality check on their definition of what is affordable to the average family.
First off, I am also a Telstra employee so I will put this up to save my hide, just in case… Any comment I make is my own opinion. I am certainly not authorised to speak on behalf of the company.
Paul, I have a question, where exactly did you get those figures? I myself am a proud employee and also a loyal customer, and I have found that my BigPond has never failed me. My speeds run consistently at around 5 or 6 MBPS, where as according to your figures its slower that dial up which leads me to this last question, when and where were these speeds tested?
that is good speed on optus i wish my network g worked that quick..now i see why 11of my friends have left telstra since christmas because of slow wireless network and lots of outages .the last 2months melbourne cbd been working at partial loss i keep getting told they waiting on part i say 2months is two long 2 wait telstra should lift there game
http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2009/12/17/world-first-in-hspa-and-dual-carrier-technology-001/comment-page-1/#comment-3826
“Dual Carrier technology is not available as a commercial product yet and we have not made any representation that you can experience the speeds listed in this story. We expect devices to be available later this year. If you have a specific service issue you would like investigated you will need to give us your service details such as name, account number and specific area where you’re experiencing problems and we will follow it up.”
Brendan [TEX Customer Engagement Manager]
brendan mate you work at telstra do some homework and check out why melbourne cbd been working at partial sector loss for 2months now please.i look forward to your reply
ment to say partial sector failure i should say pretty sure thats what some of your customer service reps have told me
RE; Daniel says: “Paul, I have a question, where exactly did you get those figures?”
Daniel, if you want to see some “Real World” speed results, i suggest you follow these threads..
Nextg..
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=943314&p=-1#bottom
Optus..
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=909307&p=55
And the blazing Vivid Wireless (Wimax)
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1273570&p=-1#bottom
Paul G.