New HSDPA Speed Record

Yesterday Qualcomm and Nortel issued a press release confirming 7.2Mbps category 8 HSDPA data calls using test terminals based on QUALCOMM’s Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM6280 solution and HSDPA network equipment from Nortel. Imagine that - 7 Megs down to a 3G handset!!!

While HSDPA Tsunami takes mobile connectivity by storm, the hype still seems to be on the WiMax side. I keep on getting the mobile WiMax questions every now and then. But it will not happen. With 7 Mbps HSDPA, just by upgrading software in existing 3G base stations, with global roaming, terminals (handsets) compatible down to plain UMTS and even GPRS, Qualcomm has been victorious again.

Last Thursday I listened carefully to Craig Barrett, as he visited Poland on his never-ending tour around the world. Intel does not say a word about mobile WiMax. Looks like the game is over here. WiMax obviously will be very important in other areas, especially in the last mile fixed broadband access.

May be one day in future we will get fully configurable SDR (Software Defined Radio) chips, that will be able to adapt to any given mobile communications standard, but for the time being the MSM 6280 from Qualcomm is the king. Look for handsets with this one inside :)