TIM to roll out HSUPA

Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) is reportedly planning to launch a HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) service in July, at the same time as it upgrades its HSDPA network from 3.6Mbps maximum speeds to 7.2Mbps (Class 8).

Population coverage is also expected to double from 35 per cent in January to 70 per cent by the end of 2007, but it’s not just the HSUPA plans that have got tongues wagging.

TIM is also lining up a new product called Unico, which will offer 5Mbps ‘fixed-mobile’ internet service. It’s been suggested this may be WiMAX, but it’s also possible that it might be some combination of ADSL, WLAN, and the upgraded cellular service.

According to TIM, mobile internet penetration is growing at 50 per cent annually. There’s also some activity on the fixed front, where the carrier is planning to make a start on FTTH (Fibre to the Home). As in Germany, a speed target of 50Mbps has been set and 3,400 buildings in Milan identified as targets for the first wave.