T-Mobile is using the 3G standard UMTS to build upon a GSM concept and offer a faster successor to earlier standards like EDGE. This upgrade of its current network is complete and now they will begin their deployment of a4G network, first via HSPA+ and then LTE.

Like many other major carriers T-Mobile has already started looking ahead to deploying 4G, simultaneous to their continuous 3G rollout.  T-Mobile’s current, newly upgraded  3G network uses HSDPA and offers downlink speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. This is a huge increase to the 3.6 Mbps downlink speed they previously offered.

Next on T-Mobile’s agenda is to  focus on deploying HSPA+ across its network.  HSPA+ will allow T-Mobile to offer downlink speeds of up to 56 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 22 Mbps. Because of the way this technology works, improvements will vary according to how close you are to a T-Mobile  tower with HSPA+ capabilities. This HSPA+ network upgrade should be completed by the end of this year, making T-Mobile the first major GSM carrier in the U.S. to do so.