GSA Confirms Accelerating Global Shift to Mobile Broadband with HSPA and Record Launches in Q4

New surveys by GSA – the Global mobile Suppliers Association, confirm the continuing strong progress of mobile broadband network deployments worldwide using HSDPA – High Speed Downlink Packet Access, and the rapidly expanding range and choices of user devices.

GSA survey “HSDPA Operator Commitments” published on January 2, 2007 confirms 140 HSDPA networks in various stages of deployment in 64 countries, of which 93 have commercially launched in 51 countries. HSDPA is delivering commercial mobile broadband services in North/South America, Europe (including 24 of the 27 EU nations), Asia, Africa, Middle East and Australia.

Q4 2006 saw a record number of HSDPA network launches, with 32 networks going live, compared to 17 (Q3), 26 (Q2) and 16 (Q1). Cumulatively, 91 HSDPA networks entered commercial service during 2006, with 49 launching in the last 6 months.

HSDPA is delivering typical user data speeds in the range 800 kbps to 3 Mbps. 28 networks support 3.6 Mbps (peak) and throughput rates will increase during 2007 with planned enhancements by many operators to 14.4 Mbps (peak).

The survey also confirms that 63 out of the 140 operators deploying HSDPA are also relying on GSM/EDGE in their networks. Customers of 41 of the 93 commercially launched HSDPA networks can also receive their voice and data services using complementary GSM/EDGE access in areas, thus ensuring service continuity and the best user experience.

The GSA survey “HSDPA Devices” identifies 128 user devices launched comprising 46 phones, 30 HSDPA-enabled notebooks, 41 PC datacards and USB modems, 10 wireless routers and 1 Personal Media Player. 50 new HSDPA-capable products were announced in the final 3 months of 2006, with the number of suppliers in the market growing from 27 to 39 in the same period. The majority of HSDPA devices also support GSM/EDGE.

Alan Hadden, President of GSA, commented: “Our surveys confirm the major shift to mobile broadband networks enabled by HSDPA is market reality. This will continue as more operators launch their networks, and as new 3G licenses are issued in key growth markets in Latin America, Russia, India/Asia and Africa, for whom HSPA is the logical and compelling technology choice”.

The surveys are available for download at www.gsacom.com with charts at www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4

Contact Information

Alan Hadden

President

GSA Press Office

Contact via E-mail