AT&T prepping Option and Sierra Wireless modems for HSPA+ launch

We know that HSPA+ (also known as HSPA Evolution, depending on who you ask and which side of the bed they got up on that morning) is in the mix for AT&T ahead of LTE, and in order to make that launch a successful one, good data cards are a must. It looks like two of the cards coming out of the gate later this year will be the Option 393 -- an unassuming USB modem with a retractable plug and integrated microSD reader -- and the Sierra "Triple Lindy," a dual form factor ExpressCard in the same vein as the AirCard 402. The 393 will top out at 14.4Mbps down and 5.76Mbps up, while the Triple Lindy really burns rubber with 21.1Mbps down and 11.5Mbps up. Of course, all those speeds are purely theoretical -- but if we can even average 10 to 15 percent of that in real life, we're in good shape.

AT&T prepping Option and Sierra Wireless modems for HSPA+ launch

[(Unverified) Posted May 25th 2009 4:23PM]

Who wants to bet that AT&T won't raise caps even though HSPA+ will give them a nice boost in network capacity? If they raised caps enough they could kill Clear WiMAX pretty easily I'd think, though I don't think that'll happen.

Wonder what real-world speeds will be like? I know current HSPA setups are about 1.5/500 on a network that can support 3.6/1.4 (right?). Then again, when you're talking about 20 Mbps you're either pushing a T3 to each tower or pulling some fiber lines in. Either of which is expensive...

[(Unverified) Posted May 26th 2009 9:03AM]

Backhaul is key to making even 3.6mbps work, and in my area there are only single T1s.

The good news is that HSPA+ is more efficient per 5mhz channel (higher order of modulation).