Vodafone reaches 16Mb/s mobile download rate, next step in 3G

by TDH | January 16, 2009 at 10:41 am

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Vodafone successfully reached a peak mobile download rate of up to 16Mb/s in a recent trial test of their HSPA+ technology,

HSPA+ is the next step in 3G after HSDPA and HSUPA, and Vodafone, working alongside Ericsson and Qualcomm, achieved the download speed by using an advanced modulation technique called 64 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) and Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) basestations and data devices.

Vodafone admits, though, that this is merely a peak number and average user download rates will probably remain around 4Mb/s. Nonetheless, 13Mb/s could be achieved assuming "good conditions."

In order for the new technology to hit the streets new, compatible devices will be required. Vodafone has not indicated any potential release dates.

In 2006 Telstra, an Australian mobile provider, unveiled their HSPA+ Next G which claims top speeds of up to 21Mb/s and even has plans to increase that to a whopping 42Mb/s later in 2009.