Evolved HSPA / HSPA+

- a tutorial or overview of the basics of 3G HSPA+ also called Evolved HSPA or HSPA Evolution.

This 3G UMTS HSPA (HSDPA + HSUPA) and HSPA+ / Evolved HSPA tutorial is split into several pages:

Evolved HSPA is also known as HSPA+ HSPA Evolution and even Internet HSPA (I-HSPA). It is an enhanced version of the 3G HSPA or High Speed Packet Access system that was used to increase the speeds of the basic 3G system. Using Evolved HSPA / HSPA+ the data transfer rates are enhanced further over those that could be achieved using HSPA and other factors such as latency and the backhaul have also been addressed.

The need for HSPA+ arose out of the increasing use of data and users wanting download speeds that were comparable with fixed broadband lines. Many other applications were also starting to need much faster data transfer rates and lower levels of latency. These are addressed by the use of HSPA+.

HSPA+ in 3GPP releases

The definition of HSPA+ / Evolved HSPA have been included in Releases 7 and 8 of the 3GPP standards.

• 3GPP Release 7:   This release of the 3GPP standard included downlink MIMO operation as well as support for higher order modulation up to 64 QAM in the uplink and 16 QAM in the downlink. However it only allows for either MIMO or the higher order modulation. It also introduced protocol enhancements to allow the support of more users that are in a "continuously on" state.
• 3GPP Release 8:   This release of the standard defines dual carrier operation as well as allowing simultaneous operation of the high order modulation schemes and MIMO. Further to this, latency is improved to keep it in line with the requirements for many new applications being used.

HSPA+ data rate comparison with LTE

The next migration of the cellular services beyond HSPA+ is known as LTE. Using a completely new air interface based around the use of OFDM rather than W-CDMA which is used for UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+, it offers even higher data traffic rates. It is then anticipated that it will be used as the basis for the next generation, i.e. 4G systems.

It is however worth comparing the maximum data rates offered by both HSPA+ and LTE.

Further pages from this tutorial
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