Vodafone to launch HSDPA in 2006

Teresa Elder, the chief executive officer of Vodafone Ireland, has confirmed that the company will launch high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) products in Ireland before the end of the year. In an interview with siliconrepublic.com, Elder said the introduction of HSDPA in the Irish market would quadruple existing 3G data speeds from 384kbps to 1.2Mbps and ensure nationwide wireless broadband availability. The Vodafone supreme has long championed high speed mobile as a solution to Ireland’s broadband problems, but acknowledges that the pricing structure of mobile data services need to be reduced to make them more attractive to consumers. She revealed that Vodafone is currently investing EUR3 million a week on its infrastructure. ‘We are going to be investing in a significant upgrade to our existing 3G network to handle HSDPA, which will take the network to the next level. The total investment in our Irish network infrastructure is EUR1 billion over seven years and we’re half way through that spend right now,’ she said. Elder also revealed the company signed up in excess of 20,000 3G customers over the Christmas period.