MWC 09: Vodafone trials super speedy 3G HSPA+

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Mobile giant Vodafone has shown off its HSPA+ leadership by demonstrating speeds of 20Mbps-plus during tests.

The move ultimately spells good news for business users who have big appetites for data on the move.

The success, achieved during trial runs of the HSPA+ multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology its network in southern Spain and Madrid, was detailed during the opening day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

The test environment made use of technology from partners including Ericsson, Huawei and Qualcomm, and builds on the success Vodafone achieved earlier this year when it trialled HSPA+ 64QAM at speeds of 16Mbps.

“Breaking the 20Mbps peak speed barrier in tests through HSPA+ MIMO is yet another key milestone in the evolution of 3G mobile broadband technology and raises the prospect of higher network performance for our customers in selected hotspots,” said Andy MacLeod, Vodafone’s director of global networks, in a statement.

“These test results mean that we will be able to derive even more value from our existing 3G infrastructure while raising the quality of service for our customers.”

Vodafone is currently working with hardware players to create commercial devices to support both 64QAM and MIMO.

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