Three Explains ‘4G’ Roll Out Is Just A Faster Version Of HSPA+

The UK mobile operator Three has sought to clear up confusing reports that it would begin rolling out 4G speeds for its customers.

Claims made in a blog post earlier this week had suggested that 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology would be launched, but the company has now clarified that the upgrade is just an enhanced version of the 3G technology HSPA+.

Misleading claims

Three described the technology as ‘4G’ in its prior post due to T-Mobile USA’s use of the term to describe the HSPA+ with 42 megabits per second (Mbps) technical standard. Though the revelation will be disappointing for many customers hoping for a British next-generation network very soon, it is worth noting that operators will only be able to use LTE technology nationwide after the 4G spectrum is auctioned off later this year.

Nevertheless, Three is keen to emphasise the improved speeds that its upgrade will deliver. Compared to the current HSPA+ 21Mbps technical standard, which gives customers potential downloads speeds of more than 10Mbps, the upgrade to the 42Mbps standard should double data speeds according to the company.

“HSPA+ ‘4G’ will deliver huge benefits for our customers,” Three said. “The obvious one is speed, with massive improvements in both download and upload speed. Because the technology uses dual carrier equipment – meaning it can latch onto two signals at the same time and transmit and receive double the data – it will also improve capacity across the network too.”

The technology is currently being tested on a section of the M3 corridor and in south-west London, with a nationwide roll out expected in the summer.

Additionally, Three said it would begin LTE testing in the next few months in preparation for the 4G auction, suggesting that an LTE offering would be a year away, at least.

Meanwhile, another mobile operator is already conducting trials in the London Borough of Southwark using Huawei’s TD-LTE (Time Division – Long Term Evolution) product. UK Broadband went live on Wednesday, offering the world’s first TD-LTE 3.5GHz deployment.

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