HELSINKI-Finnish operator Sonera said its High Speed Circuit Switched Data network would be ready to begin offering services to data customers today.
Handsets for the networks are not yet available, but expected to be delivered later this year. Depending on delivery schedules, the carrier could be the first in the world to launch commercial HSCSD service. Sonera spokesman Jyrki Karasvirta told RCR Sonera is hoping the service announcement will put pressure on handset vendors to produce the necessary phones.
HSCSD, for Global System for Mobile communications networks, allows data transmission at speeds up to 38.4 kilobits per second, compared with 9.6 kbps for regular GSM networks. Therefore, HSCSD can’t be used with existing handsets.
Nokia plans to have a phone available in the fourth quarter that can handle speeds of up to 43.2 kbps, according to a Reuters report. Ericsson does not intend to launch HSCSD phones until next year.
