Lucent's HSDPA solution will enable mobile operators to provide enterprises and consumers with the fastest mobile high-speed data connections available - comparable to DSL or cable modem - on devices including 3G phones as well laptop computers and PDAs equipped with specially designed wireless modem cards. Lucent is currently working with a variety of terminal partners to ensure the availability of HSDPA-capable devices.

Lucent's end-to-end solution currently supports data speeds of up to 3.6 Mbps, and future upgrades of HSDPA will provide theoretical maximum peak data speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps. The enhanced data transmission capabilities of HSDPA will enable UMTS operators to support high-bandwidth data services such as DVD-quality streaming video or fast downloads of very large files, and will also dramatically increase the number of data users their networks can support, maximizing the use of an operator's available spectrum.

For example, HSDPA will enable operators to support up to six times more users than UMTS in the same spectrum - at substantially higher average data rates.

Because it dramatically expands the data channel on UMTS networks, HSDPA also lays the groundwork for operators to introduce voice over IP (VoIP) and more advanced multimedia services on their mobile networks. VoIP over 3G gives operators the ability to support a greater number of voice users at a lower cost, in turn helping to ensure that voice services can continue to be delivered profitably.

"HSDPA is a natural evolution of the 3G UMTS standard," said Roger Derrien, vice president for UMTS product management with Lucent's Mobility Solutions Group. "As the 3G market matures, operators will need to enhance both the data speeds and capacity of their UMTS networks to support more users and deliver more attractive services that require higher bandwidth. Lucent's ability to offer this solution as a software-only upgrade provides operators with a simple, cost-effective means of enhancing their UMTS investments."

These capabilities are increasingly critical for mobile operators as the 3G market progresses. According to primary market research conducted by Lucent, the demand for mobile data services continues to grow -- particularly amongst enterprise users -- who are becoming dependent on mobile Internet access to enhance their productivity. Similar pent-up demand in the consumer market is beginning to be evident as well, as consumers become accustomed to broadband services in the home and office.

HSDPA is a standardized upgrade of UMTS developed by the 3GPP, an industry body that is responsible for the establishment of standards for 3G UMTS networks. HSDPA is part of a series of upgrades collectively known as UMTS Release 5.