Telstra confirms eHSPA/Next G compatibility

Telstra (ASX:TLS) has confirmed that the Enhanced HSPA (eHSPA) addition to the Next G wireless network is compatible with Next G devices, clearing the way for the world's first 21Mbps national network.

The network will combine with an Ethernet backhaul to achieve these speeds. The upgrade should be complete by the end of the year.

The tests were conducted using a wireless infrastructure network and Qualcomm's MDM8200 chipset, the first in the industry to support eHSPA devices.

Telstra's Next G network is already the world's fastest national mobile broadband network, operating at speeds of up to 14Mbps.

But technologies operating in other countries – but albeit not nationwide – deliver much faster speeds. WiMAX networks, for instance, can deliver speeds of up to 70Mbps.