Orange switches on HSDPA

France Telecom’s mobile unit Orange said Friday that it has launched High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) services in Toulouse and Bordeaux.

The operator said users of the new network would typically experience better latency, enhanced usability of current applications and would be better able to deploy new types of real time applications in the enterprise sector. Consumers meanwhile would be able to download a typical music track in 20 seconds, compared to a little less than two minutes with WCDMA.

In addition to WCDMA 3G and HSDPA infrastructure, Nokia has provided Orange with radio optimization services for optimal HSDPA experience.