MTN SA has joined rivals Cell C and Vodacom in announcing that it plans to build an advanced 3G network capable of delivering much higher-speed broadband access.

It says it will build an enhanced high-speed packet access (HSPA+) network in 2010 and is already offering 14,4Mbit/s downloads and 5,7Mbit/s uploads across its 3G cellular network.

“The MTN network underwent extensive upgrades in 2009, and this high-speed broadband service is now available countrywide,” the company says in a statement.

However, not all the necessary backhaul links are in place yet to support the new speeds, meaning consumers won’t always get the the benefits of the higher through-put available in the radio network. “As the backhaul transmission becomes available, MTN will upgrade additional sites,” it says.

The company says it has no plans to charge a premium for the higher access speeds.

Like Cell C and Vodacom, MTN also plans to build an HSPA+ network with theoretical download speeds of up to 21Mbit/s. Cell C announced last year that it would build an HSPA+ network, too; Vodacom has already begun testing the technology at its head office in Midrand with plans to roll out a number of base stations before the World Cup.

MTN says customers using its F@stlink E230 modem can already benefit from the upgraded 14,4Mbit/s network. The F@stlink E1820 USB modem, which supports HSPA+ up to 28,8Mbit/s, will be available from March.

In 2009, MTN says it invested R7,1bn upgrading its network and infrastructure.  — Staff reporter, TechCentral

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