TELUS Delivers 42 Mbps via HSPA+ Upgrade

Today, Canadian mobile phone carrier TELUS announced plans to provide customers with the fastest wireless speeds in the country, through the deployment of state-of-the-art HSPA+ Dual Cell technology. According to the operator, the new technology should offer it the possibility to deliver wireless access speeds of up to 42 Mbps on a 3G network, a goal achievable as soon as it completes the deployment of this solution across cities and towns in the country.

Moreover, TELUS notes that it is the only North American carrier to have tested HSPA+ Dual Cell technology and to announce the commercial launch of a network based on this technology. The company notes that the new enhancement is based on previous improvements it brought to the 3G network.

The new HSPA+ Dual Cell technology is based on advanced multiplexing techniques that combine two wireless data carriers that operate at speeds of up to 21 Mb/s each into a single carrier. Through this technology, the company should be able to provide users with downlink speeds of up to 42 Mb/s. However, it seems that the first HSPA+ Dual Cell compatible devices won't land on the market before the first quarter of 2011 arrives.

“Once again, the entire TELUS team is proud to be a leader in the deployment of the most advanced wireless technology to Canadians. With the roll out of this new technology, TELUS clients with ‘Dual Cell’ capable devices will enjoy unprecedented download speeds that will support even faster wireless access to an online world that connects them with their families, social networking with friends, favourite entertainment and the freedom to meet their business needs when our clients are on the move,” said TELUS President and CEO Darren Entwistle. “Canadians are amongst the most sophisticated users of wireless data in the world, and TELUS is committed to meeting their growing needs with the best technology available anywhere.”

The deployment of the new solution makes TELUS one of the few carriers in the world to plan upgrading their networks to such technologies. Telstra in Australia has already made HSPA+ Dual Cell roll-outs, the carrier notes. The move is only one step TELUS makes towards the adoption of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. The testing of the TELUS HSPA+ Dual Cell technology ended in early July, the carrier added.