GSMA spills beans on September launch for Telus' HSPA network

There was really never any question that Telus' shiny new HSPA network was launching this fall, but the carrier's generally been tightlipped on specifics; fortunately, standards bodies and industry associations have a funny tendency to unintentionally help fill in some of those blanks, and this time around it's the GSM Association doing the honors. The GSMA is now reporting that HSPA (well, HSDPA, anyway) will be live next month, and customers apparently can expect to be treated to the opportunity to buy some world-class devices like the Hero and BL40 to celebrate the launch. It's hard to tell what Rogers is really thinking through the poker face -- but if you look closely, we think you can see a few beads of sweat forming.

[Via MobileSyrup and HowardForums]

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 26th 2009 8:14PM]

Judging by the speeds the Middle East carriers are planning, I would move there for the speeds, but they don't allow beer and pr0n :(

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 26th 2009 10:04PM]

I hope the Sept 15 Telus announcement be their new HSPA network.

[Rollins Posted Aug 26th 2009 11:28PM]

DAVE wireless sounds like the most awesome carrier ever.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 26th 2009 11:48PM]

I believe this is what you call plagurism? Check out the following link. It seems awfully similar to your very specific writing style Engadget.....

http://www.mobilephonestreet.com/2009/08/26/gsma-spills-beans-on-september-launch-for-telus-hspa-network/

Not very nice Mobile Phone Street.
Keep up the good work Engadget!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2009 1:53AM]

With any luck Bell's wont be far behind with their network and a GSM Palm Pre, I can dream right?

Hopefully this will encourage competition between our 3 stagnant carriers up here, there are so many good reasons for them to do this, so many advantages to sim cards

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2009 2:13AM]

It doesn't seem like anybody really understands how this network upgrade is going to work...

They're not going to flick a switch and magically have all their CDMA towers switch to HSPA towers. The only places they will offer HSPA service is where they build new HSPA towers. Telus (and Bell - or even both of them teamed up) don't have the time, money, or resources to build HSPA towers on top of all their CDMA towers by September. Probably not even by September 2012.

What that means for service is that you're only going to see HSPA in select areas. And what that means for hardware is that you're only going to see dual-mode hardware for the first 2-3 years (remember the transition from analogue to digital? yeah, like that). So unless I'm missing some info on a dual-mode CDMA/HSPA Hero, you're either going to get the slower CDMA version or nothing at all.

Doesn't matter much though, when Canadians buy smartphones they only buy Blackberries and iPhones anyways. Dumb phones are where the money is and anything with the name "chocolate" on it will be a hit, no matter how mediocre the phone is.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2009 10:23AM]

Telus's Sept 15 announcement has nothing to do with their network. Sept 15th is the date that Cineplex Odeon/Famous Players will be introducing their new Tuesday specials.
This is what it's all about. The announcement ads mainly ran in movie theatres.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2009 11:12AM]

@TouchMe

Many people are reporting that their Rogers phones are picking up the Bell/Telus HSPA network in major urban areas. But I can also say that from my travels this summer through rural areas of Atlantic Canada, that my Rogers BB Bold more often roamed onto the Bell/Telus network that isn't running yet. So I would think they already have an extensive network going.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2009 4:36PM]

The GSM world web site has already been changed to say October for Telus' HSPA launch.