Mobile network operator O2 looks set to win the race to
launch Europe’s first commercial super-fast network using
High-Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) technology.
O2 will launch its high-speed 3G network in the Isle of Man on 1
November, beating rivals Vodafone and T-Mobile, which have
announced plans to introduce the new technology next year.
The Isle of Man network is the first stage in a roll-out across
the O2 group in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
The HSDPA network, based on technology from Lucent Technologies,
will initially offer data speeds of 1.3Mbps, allowing users to send
a 5Mbyte video clip in under 30 seconds. The network is expected to
be able to provide maximum peak data speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps in
future.
Applications and services will initially be targeted at
corporate customers of O2 subsidiary Manx Telecom, with later
developments aimed at the consumer market.
Chris Hall, Manx Telecom managing director, said, “Working with
Lucent Technologies, we will have a very early deployment of HSDPA,
allowing us to gain the knowledge and expertise in high-speed
mobile data services which can be rolled out across the O2 Group,
including the UK, Germany and Ireland.”