In December 2010, Telus announced they will be launching HSPA+ Dual Cell technology. This technology doubled the Telus data network speeds from up to 21Mbps to up to 42 Mbps, with a roadmap for true LTE in the near future.
This week, the Canadian wireless company announced the launch of their 42 Mbps 4G network and first compatible device for March 2011. At this time, that device is the Sierra Wireless AirCard 319U 4G Internet Key.
On the Telus website, the company states that initial coverage will be available to the Greater Vancouver Area, Calgary, Edmonton, Ft. McMurray, Whistler, Camrose, Winnipeg, and the Greater Toronto Area.
This new 42Mbps Telus 4G is just the initial roll-out, so we can expect iPhones to take advantage of the speeds once the iPhone itself is updated to make use of faster data networks.
[Telus]
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WTF? Camrose? My town? Sweet deal!
I don’t think that doubling up on the cell connection counts as 4G even if it’s fast. And no hardware will support this, including the iPhone, without a hardware upgrade. It’s still amazing that these speeds will be available without a hard-line but people are jumping on the 4G bandwagon a little quickly.
It’s funny. I read the info on Telus’ web site last night and they claimed it’s on 21Mbps now and will be 42Mbps. Guess what? I right away did a speed test and I got only 2.81Mbps (highest) on download. However, I got a one-time result of 4.04Mbps on UPLOAD. Is it wierd? And where is the rest of 18 Mbps download speed, Telus?
I’m glad that they’re offering a 4G network in the GVRD, but aren’t they getting a little ahead of themselves? When will 4G devices begin to roll out? Probably not until mid or end of the year and still the reception will be choppy. Maybe they’ll offer some sort of testing program? A program to test their “tests”.
I wish Apple would just tell the networks what kind of 4G network to build. With WiMax, LTE, HSPA+ Dual Cell, and whatever other technology is coming down the pipe there is no consensus. LTE and HSPA+ aren’t the same thing right?
Nothing about Montreal!!! What!!??
Actually they say “up to 21Mbps”. The devil is definitely in the details. It’d be nice if the CRTC or someone would force them to advertise actual rates. Who gives a crap if it’s technically capable of 21Mbps if in practice it never goes above 5… why not say it’s capable of up to 1Gbps, why stop at 21 or 42?
Technically some of the evolved 3G technologies (e.g. HSPA+) are now allowed to be called 4G.
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/48.aspx
The iPhone 4 is not HSPA+ so isn’t 4G. The iPhone 5 (i.e. June 2011) will almost certainly be HSPA+ compatible so technically a 4G device.
The iPhone 6 (June 2012) will likely be LTE based (hopefully LTE Advanced, which is what 4G used to mean before the ITU changed their story to line up with everyone referring to 3G evolved technologies as “4G”).
Long story short, there are 4G (aka HSPA+) devices available now… they started to trickle in the US in Q4’2010 and are just starting in Canada.
I think there is a consensus, LTE/LTE Advanced is where everyone (at least in Canada) is heading. There’s an upgrade path with each carrier at a different point on that path.
Canada was very fortunate that Bell/Telus/Virgin all went to HSPA since it allows the entire country to be on more/less the same tech (with a few exceptions, Wind Mobile/Videotron/etc being on AWS so not fully compatible, unless someone makes a chip that includes AWS freqs /w standard North America HSPA freqs).
The upgrade path looks something like this:
GSM > HSPA > HSPA+ > LTE > LTE Advanced
Bell/Telus had to jump in at HSPA (without GSM infrastructure in place) and take a 900 million dollar hit. I’m sure the iPhone made it worthwhile though.
4G lite?
ya 4g dont speak frog lol