Download Speeds

Not as advertised: Mobile broadband speeds

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:10:09 -0400

Having monitored 1,300 mobile broadband users for six months, the industry research firm Epitro claims download speeds were running at an average of 0.9Mbps--only a quarter of what most providers promise in their advertising.

The company installed monitoring software on 1,300 handsets spread across all six major UK service providers. The application recorded activities such as downloading, web surfing, streaming video, online gaming and VoIP calling, and, during the six-month period, were able to collect over 1.4 million test results, finding that most users were given just 24 per cent of the average 3.6Mpbs advertised.

Separately, Vodafone Portugal made great play of its new service that promised to boost mobile broadband speeds to 21.6Mbps using HSPA+. However, the company admitted the speeds obtained were theoretical rates only, and only available in the capital, Lisbon.

The Finnish operator, DNA, claims it will use HSPA+ to provide 21Mbps next month, and is committed to boost this to 42Mbps next year.

For more on this story:
Mobile Choice

3 Ireland completes I-HSPA upgrade

Ian Channing — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:51:28 -0400

Working with Nokia Siemens Networks, Irish mobile operator 3 has successfully completed the upgrade of its network to the I-HSPA (Internet High Speed Packet Access) technology. This is the first commercial deployment of I-HSPA in Ireland. The technology is being deployed as part of Ireland's National Broadband Scheme (NBS) for which 3 has been selected as the wireless provider. Initially 3 will be offering customers in NBS coverage areas download speeds of 7.2Mbit/s but this will be upgraded in 2010 to 14.4Mbit/s.

In preparation for the evolution to I-HSPA 3 has totally replaced all the base stations in its WCDMA network with new Flexi units from Nokia Siemens Networks. Upgrading the network to I-HSPA will provide 3 with greater scalability and a smooth evolutionary path to LTE.

For more on this story:
- go to European Communications and Mobile Europe

UK customers short changed on mobile download

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:30:24 -0400

Mobile broadband users in the UK are not getting anything like the download data speeds being promoted by ISPs.

A survey by broadband monitoring company Epitiro reports that mobile broadband customers received, on average, just 24 per cent of advertised download speeds, equal to just under 1Mbit/s, compared to the 3.6Mbit/s claimed by most UK ISPs. Mobile web browsing was 34 per cent slower than through equivalent ADSL fixed line connections. Part of the problem appears to be capacity limitation as the survey found that average download speeds almost doubled when tests were carried out in the early hours of the morning.

The Digital Britain report, due out shortly, will recommend that the whole of the UK be served with minimum broadband speeds of 2Mbit/s. The problems of delivering fixed line ADSL to remote areas will require the deployment of mobile broadband. The findings of the Epitiro survey would seem to suggest that mobile broadband will struggle to deliver the data download speeds recommended by Digital Britain.

For more on this story:
ITPro, Silicon.com and 3g.co.uk

French mobile data download speeds overhaul basic ADSL offerings

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:36 -0500

French mobile operators have improved their data networks to such an extent that download speeds are now comparable, or better, than rates offered by entry-level ADSL services. The tests, conducted by the local telecoms regulator ARCEP, indicated a doubling of download speeds over those obtained in 2007, with rates of 1.45Mbps on average, rising to a peak rate of 4Mbps.

Other tests were also conducted by ARCEP covering voice, MMS, SMS and video telephony services--with each being judged as highly satisfactory in the 12 most densely populated cities in France. However, the regulator called for improvements to be made to mobile services when used on TGV high-speed train lines, on busy motorways and in commuter trains in major cities.

For more on this story:Cellular News

Trials prove HSPA+ can deliver on its promise

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:00:37 -0500

During HSPA+ field trials on its Spanish 3G network Vodafone achieved actual peak data download speeds of 16Mbit/s using the 64QAM technology. Later this year Vodafone plans to hold further trials using the HSPA+ MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) solution which should deliver peak download rates of 21Mbit/s. Peak download rates do not necessarily reflect real-life conditions but Vodafone believes it can deliver a typical video download experience of more than 13Mbit/s and an average of 4Mbit/s across a range of different cell locations including urban environments.

If the trials prove a success, Vodafone plans to make this technology available in selected commercial networks. The trials were carried out in cooperation with Ericsson and Qualcomm. Commercial launch of HSPA+ would require new handsets and Vodafone says it is working with partners to develop these new devices. Australia's Telstra launched an HSPA+ network in 2006 which is theoretically capable of delivering download speeds of up to 21Mbit/s.

For more on this story:
- go to 3g.co.uk and The Register

Related stories:
Telecom Italia to roll out HSPA+
Qualcomm demos HSPA+ transfer rate at 20 Mbps

Bus travellers get free Wi-Fi

Paul Rasmussen — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:15:07 -0500

Travellers on the RailAir bus service between London's Heathrow Airport and nearby Reading are now able to enjoy free Wi-Fi Internet access during their journey. Coach operator FirstGroup is deploying Icomera's mobile broadband gateways on all its vehicles, offering passengers the opportunity to access the Internet at download speeds of up to 2Mbit/s.

The new equipment will also offer GPS-based vehicle location capability enabling FirstGroup to track all their vehicles in real time. The RailAir deployment is part of a Wi-Fi initiative currently underway at First based on Icomera's Moovbox technology. The First Berkshire group is fitting Icomera solutions on the Green Line service that runs between Royal Windsor and Victoria Coach Station in Central London. The Icomera Moovbox has also been deployed in South Wales by First Cymru on the Shuttle100 commuter coach service between Cardiff and Swansea.

For more on this story go to Mobile Europe and Silicon.com