Ericsson in 3G/HSPA deal with Personal in Argentina

Ericsson is building an HSPA-enabled 3G network for leading Argentinean operator, Personal. Ericsson will also expand and modernize Personal’s existing network with its Mobile Softswitch solution and be the prime-integrator for the network and will provide business consulting services.

The HSPA technology solution will enable Personal to break through with a new generation of mobile broadband services, delivering true broadband speed. Personal subscribers will also enjoy a richer communication experience.

High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), the first step in the evolution path of WCDMA, enables operators to introduce attractive new services such as mobile broadband with mobile TV, mobile music, high-speed internet connectivity and fixed wireless services. Ericsson’s HSPA solution offers ADSL-like peak data speeds for the downlink up to 14.4Mbps.

This technology lets operators more than double their system capacity and cuts response times for interactive services. On average, users will be able to download 20 times faster than with a GSM/GPRS connection. Future evolution steps will increase the HSPA download speed to 42Mbps and the upload speed to 12Mbps.

Ericsson’s Mobile Softswitch solution will help Personal to minimize their operating expenses through evolution towards an all-IP core network.

Personal has been operating since 1996 and its main shareholder is Telecom Argentina S.A. With more than 9.3 mln clients in the country, it offers services of mobile telephony through GSM and, since May, it offers 3G mobile services by means of the standard UMTS/HSDPA.