56Mbps HSPA+ networks will appear in 2010

HUAWEI, maker of all things wireless, has announced it'll start deploying a commercial 56Mbps HSPA+ solution for wireless broadband in 2010.

The new technology works on MiMo - multiple in, multiple out - technology to bombard your terminal with data rates up to 56Mbps. A bit like satellite reception on a GPS unit, HSPA+ with MiMo will combine the data rates of several base station antennae and increase overall throughput to and from your Huawei kit.

HSPA+ networks already deployed by some Huawei-friendly operators across Asis provide up to 28Mbps of data throughput.

The hiding-in-plain-sight detail is that this is achieved by a simple firmware update, so operators who invested in Huawei are patting themselves on the back while the ones who didn't, well... need to find a soft enough wall to bang their heads on.

With LTE closing in, these little tweaks will extend the life of mobile infrastructure without companies having to dole out cash for new IP.

With a simple firmware upgrade, current operators using Huawei base-stations will be able to offer their customers twice the bandwidth, even though there will surely be a downside to this in the form of base station saturation in high-traffic periods.

We've heard no word from Huawei on whether the upgrade will be free of charge to operators or part of a technical upgrade support package. Free lunches anyone? µ