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A wireless mobile communication service that is faster than ADSL is on its way to the market. The 3.5 generation technology dubbed High Speed Downling Packet Access (HSDPA) is theoretically more than six times faster in data transfer than services such as SK Telecom¡¯s June and KTF¡¯s Fimm.
If downloading an MP3 music file takes 10 seconds, it would take two with HSDPA, while downloading data from a station could be as fast as 14 mbps theoretically, but in reality probably 2 to 7 mbps.
HSDPA handsets could do serious damage to the WiBro (Wireless Broadband) technology, which is to start services next year.
SK Telecom said Monday it asked Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to build facilities worth W100 billion (US$100 million) such as WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) stations, adding the service will be available by early next year. SK plans to invest a total of W600-billion in WCDMA technology including HSDPA.
KTF reportedly plans to invest some W300 billion. The company admitted the new technology will be a major threat to WiBro due to its mobility and speed.
The technology is making headlines in Japan, China and the U.S. as well. According to press reports, Japan's leading mobile telecom service provider NTT Docomo will first start HSDPA services this year and advance to fourth-generation mobile technology by 2010. HSDPA is also will also hit the American market this year and is shaking up the Chinese market.
Handset makers are prepared. Companies such as Samsung Electronics, Erickson and Qualcomm have introduced HSDPA handsets, systems, and chipsets at IT exhibitions like 3GSM World Congress, CeBIT, and CTIA 2005.
A Qualcomm Korea insider said the company will introduce a chipset for HSDPA later this year. He added only time will tell if WiBro can survive the competition.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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