Zapp boosts mobile broadband speeds

Romanian mobile operator Zapp has revealed that it has contracted ZTE to deploy HPSA+ technology across its W-CDMA network in Bucharest during August. The network upgrade will boost download speeds in the capital to a maximum of 21Mbps and upload speeds to up to 5.8Mbps. Chris Bataillard, CEO of Zapp, said: ‘Historically, Zapp leads the way in the Romanian mobile data market; we were the first to launch mobile data services, we were the first to offer broadband access nationwide, now we are the first to launch HSPA+.’ The network upgrade is running parallel to Zapp’s second phase 3G rollout, expanding its UMTS services to 63 cities nationwide. Additionally, the company is extending its CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A network to cover 80% of the Romanian population.