Qualcomm and Teleepoch Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October 6, 2007

MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6, 2007

Brazilian government to publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007

KTF 3G service suffers from technical problems, October 6, 2007

Argentina’s Personal lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007

Russia has it's first 3G network, October 6, 2007

AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007

Enea Extends License Agreement with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007

LG to unveil premium handsets in Brazil, October 2, 2007

KTF 3G subscribers doubled in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007

3G policy in India will be non-uniform, October 2, 2007

- previous news

SmarTone-Vodafone unveil commercial HSDPA service

July 31, 2006

Hong Kong mobile operator SmarTone-Vodafone launches Hong Kong's first commercial mobile broadband service with full HSDPA coverage in Hong Kong. This launch follows the successful upgrade by Ericsson of SmarTone-Vodafone's 3G/WCDMA network with HSDPA.

The upgrade to HSDPA enables SmarTone-Vodafone to deliver true broadband speed of up to 1.8Mbps to laptops, and introduce its customers to a new generation of mobile broadband services with true mobility and real freedom to move. At this stage, users will be able to download five times faster than the current 3G connection using existing PC-cards, and 20 times faster than with a GSM/GPRS connection. Under the agreement, Ericsson has delivered HSDPA hardware, software and implementation services.

Douglas Li, CEO of SmarTone-Vodafone, says: "We are pleased to be the first operator in Hong Kong as well as the Greater China region to offer mobile broadband with full HSDPA coverage throughout the territory. The launch represents what real 3G can achieve and demonstrates how 3G with HSDPA can bring substantially better benefits to both business users and consumers through our Mobile Broadband service."

Johan Adler, President of Ericsson Hong Kong, says: "We are proud to support SmarTone-Vodafone with the introduction of HSDPA services, bringing this key technology to Hong Kong consumers at a very early stage. SmarTone-Vodafone's early launch of HSDPA underlines their innovative profile and will gear their network with the most advanced functionalities and services."

This is another significant step in the long-standing, successful partnership between Ericsson and SmarTone-Vodafone, following the 3G launch in Hong Kong in 2004. Ericsson has previously been selected by SmarTone-Vodafone as sole supplier of Core and Radio Networks, including GPRS and WCDMA/3G.

Ericsson's HSDPA solution will enable peak download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps. The advanced technology offers operators more than double the system capacity and makes response times for interactive services faster. SmarTone-Vodafone is planning to upgrade to a maximum speed of 14.4 Mbps by 2007/08.