WCDMA HSPA cellular connections to reach 40 million
ConvergenceAsia staff
13/07/2007

WCDMA HSPA cellular connections are expected to reach 40 million worldwide by end of 2008, reveals Wireless Intelligence, the joint venture between research firm Ovum and the GSM Association, the global trade association representing over 600 GSM mobile phone operators across the world.

According to Wireless Intelligence forecasts, WCDMA HSPA is expected to represent around 45 per cent of total WCDMA cellular connections by 2010, which are also on track to exceed GSM connections by 2010 in those countries where the network has been launched.

WCDMA HSPA is a software upgrade to existing WCDMA networks typically launched from 2003. The technology enables operators to enrich services and migrate the user experience from 'voice and text only' to a data-centric 'broadband user experience'.

Asia Pacific is driving growth during the initial phase of adoption, while European operators will boost total WCDMA HSPA cellular connections from the end of 2008, says Joss Gillet, Senior Analyst at Wireless Intelligence.

WCDMA HSPA has started on a fast adoption cycle as it benefits from an optimum development cost, improving network coverage and affordable handsets being introduced to mid to low tiers of the market. It will be commercially present in more than 60 countries by the end of next year, based on announced plans.

Networks in China and India have not been included in the WCDMA HSPA forecasts as operators have not yet announced any official deployment. Similarly, Russian WCDMA HSPA connections have not yet been forecasted.

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