Gizmodo Australia » hsupa

IPhone 3GS Upstream Speed Limited To 384Kbps

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:20:00 +0000

While the iPhone 3GS got a download speed boost—to 7.2Mbps—it didn’t get any upload power-up. According to PC World, its upstream speed is limited by its hardware to 384Kbps. But don’t get out the torches and pitchforks yet.

Most GSM-based mobile phones suffer the same problem: No matter how fast they are at download, they will upload at only 384Kbps. This is because the hardware doesn’t support the HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) standard, created by Nokia—the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) refers to this standard as Enhanced Uplink.

Some would say that this is not needed because Enhanced Uplink—which runs at 1.4 and 1.9Mbps—is not supported by AT&T yet, but in Europe there are networks that already support this standard. I would imagine that users of the popular JesusPhone would love to upload their photos and videos to Facebook and YouTube as fast as possible.

On the other side, with AT&T still struggling to get 7.2Mbps off the ground and most of the other networks having problems and slowdowns everywhere, I would be happy if they all just managed to actually deliver their advertised download speeds. [PC World]

Telstra Boosts Next G’s Uplink Speed To 5.8Mbps

Nick Broughall — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:00:36 +0000

You’ve got to give it to Telstra: Even though you pay for it dearly, their Next G network keeps advancing leaps and bounds beyond what any of the other networks have to offer. First there was the speed bump to 21Mbps download speeds, and now they’ve bumped up the upload speeds to 5.8Mbps.

Like the 21Mbps figure, the 5.8Mbps is only a theoretical maximum – in the real world you’re more likely to get speeds of 300Kbps to 3Mbps in capital cities, or up to 1Mbps everywhere else. For comparison, Optus’s HSPA network has a theoretical maximum of 2Mbps uplink, with real world speeds in metro areas varying between 150Kbps and 1.5Mbps (or 1.1Mbps in regional areas). Telstra reckon that this speed boost makes uploading stuff about 3 times faster than before.

The uplink speed boost will work with the Telco’s 21Mbps HSPA modem straight away with a firmware upgrade available from Sierra Wireless’ website, while other NextG and BigPond customers will have the update made available in the coming weeks.

[Telstra]

Broadcom’s Latest 3G Chip Has Longer Life, Cheaper Costs, iPhone Potential

Jason Chen — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:49:34 +0000

Broadcom’s latest 3G HSUPA BCM21551 chip is a bigger deal than its somewhat dry press release indicates. The all-in-one 3G chip is both cheaper and has a “very long battery life” when compared with current 3G chips, which have the problem of sucking your phone’s battery faster than an unclogged shower drain. The new chip will be more like a drain after your wife’s just washed her hair. In addition to having the potential of making it into the iPhone, the chip could mean many more phones—even dinky bargain bin ones—will make the jump to 3G. Which will then in turn make providers expand and improve their 3G coverage. [PRNewswire]

Telstra officially launches new NextG speeds

Seamus Byrne — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 02:32:25 +0000

Our recent rumours have come true, with word out of Telstra that their new 6Mb down / 1.3Mb up HSUPA services are live. Most existing NextG data cards will be upgradeable to the new DOWNLOAD speeds, which implies new cards are needed to take full advantage. Telstra states the speed will burst at around 6Mbps down (theoretical 7.2Mb down is not mentioned), with average rates between 550kbps and 3Mbps. Up should average between 300kbps and 1Mbps, bursting to 1.3Mbps.

Like the theoretical down numbers that haven’t been used in Telstra’s announcement, our rumours had mentioned 1.9Mb up as a max. Telstra seems very well behaved by only mentioning real burst speeds as their top figures. These up numbers in particular are a big improvement and better than most hard wired services.

Two Sierra Wireless cards, one USB and one Express Card, also mentioned in rumours, are confirmed as the first card available at the new speeds. Pricing below.Now if the pricing could just become accessible to pockets of average depth, this could get very exciting. It does seem a shade more realistic than last I checked – $54.95 for ‘20 hours’; $84.95 for 500MB; $114.95 for 1GB; $184.95 for 3GB. Perhaps I should say a shade less unrealistic. I’d think it is more comfortably in the domain of serious business users, but it still has a way to go before the traditional ‘rest of us’ can afford.

The 20 hours option is notable. Can’t see where there is a usage cap mentioned on that one, but you could probably break even the 1GB cap in 20 hours if you really tried to. Not that it would be an efficient use of $55 a month, but you know what I mean… -Seamus Byrne [Telstra Press Release]

AT&T’s 3G Network Getting a 6X Kick In the Upload Pantalones

Brian Lam — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:07:25 +0000

Cellphones on AT&T’s 3G network will be getting a speed bump that could be worth 6x. Right now, AT&T’s HSDPA networks are limited to 130kbps of upload, but when HSUPA (High speed Uplink Packet Access) is pushed live in October/November, the network will be good for 500 to 800kbps with HSUPA devices only. (Who knows when they’ll reach your market, and it’ll be data cards first.) Theoretically, that puts it on par with EVDO Revision A speeds for sending junk. [Wireless Info]

NextG HSUPA update rumour firming: next week?

Seamus Byrne — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 07:36:44 +0000

We’ve had a few more tipsters share their knowledge on the upcoming NextG speed bump, along with firmer details on what you can expect from the update. One point is downgraded – uplink at 1.9Mbit, not 3Mbit. Still superior to wired uplink speeds.

- 7.2Mbit down, but we’re now hearing 1.9Mbit up.
- A Sierra wireless USB card will be the first HSUPA device to launch.
- 70% of current units, based on 6820 chipset, will be firmware upgradeable.
- New pricing to coincide with the release (that’s a price drop).
- Possibly as early as next week.

Thanks to those who’ve helped firm this up. With multiple sources now, we’re pretty confident this is only a matter of whether it is set for next week or the week after? -Seamus Byrne

Rumour: NextG to get faster very soon?

Seamus Byrne — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:23:38 +0000

This is one of those ‘friend of a friend’ rumours, but it’s harmless enough so we thought we’d share. An inquisitive reader was shooting the breeze with a Telstra techie recently, and was told that new HSUPA data rates are less than a month off from release. He mentions 7.2Mbit down / 3Mbit up.

Virtual Blackberry software also got a mention as being available in a similar timeframe, set for Windows Mobile 6 handsets only. Grains of salt ahoy on the timings, but it’s all something to look forward to for the NextG crew… so long as that ‘less than a month’ doesn’t turn into a year. -Seamus Byrne