T-Mobile Announces HSPA+ in New Markets

At International CTIA Wireless 2010, wireless carrier T-Mobile USA announced plans to upgrade its entire 3G wireless network to the High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) technology, in an attempt to deliver faster data speeds to its customers. According to the operator, it intends to have HSPA+ deployed over its entire 3G footprint, which covers more than 100 metropolitan areas and 185 million people in the United States. Moreover, the carrier also hosted a live demonstration of the broadband-like HSPA+ data speeds on various products at the CTIA event.

“Consumers want a mobile broadband experience that’s easy and as good as their connection at home on the best wireless devices available,” said Neville Ray, senior vice president of engineering and operations for T-Mobile USA. “This year T-Mobile will upgrade its national 3G network to HSPA+ which will support faster speeds and give customers a superior wireless data experience when they access their mobile social network, stream videos or share content. T-Mobile’s network is primed to deliver the speeds that today’s data users crave.”

T-Mobile already managed to successfully launch HSPA+ services in Philadelphia last fall, and now the advanced network speeds are available for users in more markets, including major areas of New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and suburban Washington, D.C., and will arrive in Los Angeles in the near future. The carrier will continue the deployment of the technology on its network, which currently covers more than 206 million people.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is expected to deliver higher speeds when compared to competing 3G wireless networks in the country, the carrier notes. Its customers will be able to enjoy the new speeds on a wide range of devices, including the T-Mobile webConnect Rocket USB Laptop Stick, which is the first HSPA+ device launched by a US carrier, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, its first netbook (set to become available tomorrow in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami for $199.99 with two-year contract), or mobile phones like the HTC HD2, the Motorola CLIQ XT and the T-Mobile myTouch 3G.

“The webConnect Rocket and Dell Inspiron Mini 10 are the latest mobile broadband products that deliver real customer benefits with faster speeds available today,” said Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer for T-Mobile USA. “And the great thing about T-Mobile’s 3G network evolution is its backward compatibility — most of our 3G smartphones will deliver a better mobile Web experience. Customers don’t have to spend money on a device upgrade, which is a rarity in consumer electronics.”