While AT&T revealed its next-generation network plans no longer involve deploying HSPA+, T-Mobile USA's Neville Ray said the operator will be deploying HSPA+ services nationwide by 2010 and already has HSPA+ up an running in parts of Philadelphia.
During an address at the 4G World Congress, Neville called HSPA+, which bumps the network peak data rates to 21 Mbps, "the most cost effective way for operators to move into the mobile broadband space very aggressively." He added that the technology easily overlays an existing network footprint, utilizes current spectrum holdings, is backward compatible with all services and boasts a device ecosystem that is rapidly maturing.
Interestingly, he also said that T-Mobile is very committed to LTE. "We will be an LTE house at some point in time, but it depends on how this path develops."
Previously, Kris Rinne, AT&T's senior vice president of architecture and planning, spelled out a network upgrade plan that now doesn't include HSPA+. Originally the operator had a plan to move to HSPA, which offers peak data rates of 7.2 Mbps, and then milk the network some more by deploying HSPA+ before it moves to LTE in 2010. Rinne said AT&T will continue to look at HSPA+ but has no plans to deploy it.
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