AT&T looks to roll out HSPA in time for 3G iPhone

AT&T says it is nearly finished with its HSUPA network deployment with six more markets to go. The operator expects to have its HSUPA deployment finished by next month. AT&T says that the technology will give subscribers uplink speeds between 500 Kbps and 800 Kbps. Download speeds are in the 1.4 Mbps range.

The timing of AT&T's HSUPA network completion is key because June is when the 3G iPhone is expected to make its debut. In fact, GizModo is reporting 3G iPhone will launch June 9 or shortly thereafter. Originally it was thought the 3G version would be introduced in June but not available until year-end. HSUPA will give iPhone users access to much faster network speeds than the current iPhone, which uses AT&T's EDGE data network. AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega recently indicated that AT&T will have a time-to-market advantage over WiMAX [1] with its HSUPA technology because HSUPA Release 7 will give the company 7 Mbps to 20 Mbps data speeds within the next two years. 

For more:
- see this press release [2]

Related stories:
AT&T: HSPA will provide 20 Mbps data speeds. See this story on AT&T's HSPA plans [1]
AT&T CTO HSDPA progressing, HSUPA in test phase. See this story on AT&T's HSPA deployment [3]