High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) systems are now common place across Latin America and a recent white paper points to growing evidence that operators are looking to get full benefit from this technology as it evolves to HSPA+.

Although the future is LTE, the region is a good example of how 3G networks can take the customer all the way to the cusp of that new era. Progress made since 3GPP Release 7 has allowed HSPA+ to benefit from the techniques used in the elaboration of LTE to ensure that both support smart phones, tablets and PCs as user needs grow.

The 4G Americas white paper “The Evolution of HSPA” predicts that future enhancements in 3GPP Release 11 should allow HSPA+ to deliver up to 336 Mbps. Talking about the paper, Erasmo Rojas, of 4G Americas says: “HSPA+, with its continuously evolving and growing ecosystem, is becoming ubiquitous in major cities throughout Latin America and is setting the stage for future deployments of LTE in 2012 and beyond as operators gain access to new spectrum assets”.

The paper goes on to identify the path to LTE, with 37 operators in the region already planning for deployment in new spectrum bands such as 1.7/2.1 GHZ, 2.6GHz and the digital dividend band of 700 MHz.

About 4G Americas

Download the white paper at: www.4gamericas.org/documents

4G Americas is an industry trade organization composed of leading telecommunications service providers and manufacturers. The organization's mission is to promote, facilitate and advocate for the deployment and adoption of the 3GPP family of technologies throughout the Americas.

More information is available at www.4gamericas.org.