HSPA+, or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, is a technical standard for wireless, broadband
telecommunication. HSPA+ enhances the widely used WCDMA based 3G networks with higher speeds
for the end user that are comparable to the newer LTE networks. HSPA+ was first defined
in the technical standard 3GPP release 7 and expanded further in later releases.
In the United States, it is commonly available under AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile US.
Speeds HSPA+ provides an evolution of High Speed
Packet Access and provides data rates up to 168 Megabits per second to the mobile device
and 22 Mbit/s from the mobile device. Technically these are achieved through the use of a multiple-antenna
technique known as MIMO and higher order modulation or combining multiple cells into one with
a technique known as Dual-Cell HSDPA. The 168 Mbit/s and 22 Mbit/s represent theoretical
peak speeds. The actual speed for a user will be lower. In general, HSPA+ offers higher
bitrates only in very good radio conditions or if the terminal and network both support
either MIMO or Dual-Cell HSDPA, which effectively use two parallel transmit channels with different
technical implementations. The higher 168 Mbit/s speeds are achieved
by using multiple carriers with Dual-Cell HSDPA and 4-way MIMO together simultaneously.
The technology also delivers significant battery life improvements and dramatically quicker
wake-from-idle time – delivering a true always-on connection. HSPA+ should not be
confused with LTE, which uses a new air interface based on OFDMA technology. HSPA+ is an evolution
of HSPA that upgrades the existing 3G network and provides a method for telecom operators
to migrate towards 4G speeds without deploying a new radio interface.
All-IP architecture A flattened all-IP architecture is an option
for the network within HSPA+. In this architecture, the base stations connect to the network via
IP bypassing legacy elements for the user's data connections. This makes the network faster
and cheaper to deploy and operate. The legacy architecture is still permitted with the Evolved
HSPA and is likely to exist for several years after adoption of the other aspects of HSPA+.
This 'flat architecture' connects the 'user plane' directly from the base station to the
GGSN external gateway, using any available link technology supporting TCP/IP. The definition
can be found in 3GPP TR25.999. The user's data flow bypasses the Radio Network Controller
and the SGSN of the previous 3GPP UMTS architecture versions thus simplifying the architecture,
reducing costs and delays. This is nearly identical to the 3GPP Long Term Evolution
flat architecture as defined in the 3GPP standard Rel-8. The changes allow cost effective modern
link layer technologies such as xDSL or Ethernet and is no longer tied to the more expensive
and rigid requirements of the older standard of SONET/SDH and E1/T1 infrastructure.
There are no changes to the 'control plane'. Nokia Siemens Networks Internet HSPA or I-HSPA
is the first commercial solution implementing the Evolved HSPA flattened all-IP architecture.
Deployment See: List of HSPA+ networks.
See also Comparison of wireless data standards
High Speed Packet Access High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
High-Speed Uplink Packet Access List of UMTS networks
List of HSDPA networks List of HSUPA networks
List of HSPA+ networks References
External links 3GPP
Free download of 3GPP standards available at
3GPP Specifications Home Page ETSI GSM UMTS 3GPP Numbering Cross Reference
HSPA LTE Link Budget Comparison Public HSPA Discussion Forum
Nokia HSPA EDGE, HSPA & LTE
QUALCOMM to Deliver 28 Mbps Mobile Broadband with HSPA+
Huawei HSPA+ HSPA+ Upgrade in Sri Lanka [1]
Sri Lanka; Local 28.8 Mbit/s downlink HSPA trial a 'success'[2]
HSPA now "officially" 4G