Mobitel tests 28Mbps HSPA+

Sri Lankan mobile operator Mobitel, a subsidiary of wireline incumbent Sri Lanka Telecom, has completed successful tests of HSPA+ technology with the capability to deliver downlink speeds of up to 28Mbps. The increased speed was achieved with the installation of Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology which effectively uses multiple antennas in both the handset and HSPA network to split the radio signal into multiple streams, providing an ideal platform to offer faster mobile broadband access and enhanced data-based services. The HSPA+ trials were carried out in partnership with China’s Huawei Technologies. Mobitel launched commercial 3.5G network services under the ‘M3’ banner in December 2007, based on HSDPA/HSUPA technology, enabling maximum theoretical speeds of 14.4Mbps (downlink) and 2Mbps (uplink).