What's beyond 3G? 3.5G, stupid

March 29 2004 
by Tony Hallett 
 
Operators looking to next stage - and it's not just
about speed 
 
http://www.silicon.com/networks/mobile/0,39024665,39119604,00.htm

With 2004 looking like the year of widespread launches
of 3G cellular networks based on the W-CDMA standard,
experts have identified what's mostly likely to come
next. 

HSDPA - or (take a breath now) High Speed Downlink
Packet Access - is already in the sights of W-CDMA
pioneer NTT DoCoMo for a Japan launch around this time
next year and it will be the 3.5G choice of other
operators, according to ARC Group. 

 
Researchers put HSDPA's use alongside that of other
faster data transfer technologies such as the TDD
flavour of W-CDMA and proprietary options such as
Flash OFDM. ARC forecasts a combined user base for
these of 9.1 million by 2008. 

But while speed will be a key driver, other reasons
for their uptake include integration with wireless LAN
technology. 

Chris White, ARC telecoms consultant, said in a
statement that this integration is "one of the vital
stepping stones to 4G". 

HSDPA is expected to allow downlink data speeds five
times faster than the 3G networks being rolled out
now. Most vendors are shipping W-CDMA equipment with
HSDPA built in and operators are planning trials for
the end of this year.