O2 will roll out HSDPA across its national 3G networks by Q3 2006, the network operator has revealed.

The carrier has been testing HSDPA (High Speed Data Packet Access) technology on the Isle of Man, which also played host to its original 3G trials. Next year's roll-out will see the service launched in the UK, Germany and Ireland.

Come early 2008, and the download speed is set to rise to 7.3Mbps before hitting 10.2Mbps in late 2009.

The trial network became a commercial service run by O2 subsidiary Manx Telecom last week.

"This is the first super 3G network," said Dave Williams, O2's CTO. "It's the 3G we always wanted."

Initially the service will be delivered direct to PCs courtesy of HSDPA-equipped Sierra Wireless AirCard 850 PCMCIA cards. Williams claimed two unnamed notebook makers plan to integrate HSDPA into their machines next year. Handsets capable of accessing the faster download speeds are in the pipeline too. ®

Related stories

• Intel looks to SIM cards for universal wireless access (15 February 2006)
• Vodafone readies HSDPA 3G card for notebooks (24 January 2006)
• O2 chalks up 27m mobile punters (23 January 2006)
• Acer to integrate 3G into notebooks (20 January 2006)
• EC waves through O2 buy-out (11 January 2006)
• Ericsson to babysit 3's UK phone network (6 December 2005)
• Exclusive HTC confirms HSDPA 3G handsets will ship H2 2006 (25 November 2005)
• O2 ups revs and punters (14 November 2005)
• HTC preps media-centric 3G phone (3 November 2005)
• WiMAX World Is the WiMAX-4G train leaving without Intel? (1 November 2005)
• O2 pushes ahead with super-fast mobile service (20 October 2005)
• HSDPA in Germany next year (22 July 2005)
• HSDPA is faster 3G - in theory (but where are the phones?) (2 May 2005)
• WiMAX hype peaks (24 March 2005)