Cingular Wireless L.L.C. appears set to make good on its claims to launch high-speed UMTS/HSDPA services in more than a dozen markets by the end of the year. The carrier released initial UMTS/HSDPA launch plans on an internal Web site that shows the carrier preparing to cover 18 markets with the high-speed network beginning Nov. 1.
The markets covered in the initial launch plans include Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas; Chicago; Detroit; Baltimore; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; and Seattle and Tacoma, Wash. The initial list includes the six cities-Dallas, Detroit, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle-that AT&T Wireless Services Inc. had already covered with UMTS services prior to being acquired by Cingular last fall.
It is not clear from the documents whether the markets will include HSDPA upgrades or if they will launch with only UMTS capabilities. Cingular has said its UMTS network will provide average speeds of between 220 kilobits per second and 320 kbps on the downlink, while HSPDA is expected to boost speeds to between 400 kbps and 700 kbps on the downlink.
The maps of the initial market launches show extensive coverage across city centers, with a “Phase II” expansion showing even broader coverage plans in the future.
In support of the launch Cingular showed details on the Sierra Wireless Inc. AirCard 860 PC Card. According to Sierra Wireless, the AirCard 860 includes UMTS/HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS/GSM capabilities using the 850 MHz and 1.9 GHz North American spectrum bands as well as the 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz bands used by European operators.
AWS offered a pair of UMTS handsets from Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc. as well as a Novatel Wireless Inc. PC Card for its limited network launch, though Cingular is offering none of those devices. Cingular has said it plans to offer consumer-friendly devices for its network shortly after launch.
Cingular had no comment on the impending launch, but numerous executives have said the carrier would cover 15 to 20 markets by the end of the year.
Cingular’s UMTS/HSDPA network is expected to level the high-speed wireless data playing field among the industry’s larger operators, which CDMA-based operators have so far dominated.
Verizon Wireless is regarded by many as the leading high-speed wireless data provider among cellular operators. Verizon covers more than 60 markets with its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO technology. Sprint Nextel Corp. also has begun rolling out its own EV-DO coverage with plans to cover more than 60 metropolitan areas by early next year. Both CDMA operators claim their EV-DO networks provide average speeds of between 400 kbps and 700 kbps on the downlink.
T-Mobile USA Inc. recently launched EDGE capabilities across most of its network, but is waiting for additional spectrum capacity before moving forward with its 3G plans.
