T-Mobile CTO Says 84Mbps HSPA+ Still a Possibility

Two weeks ago, we heard that T-Mobile had confirmed it was no longer planning to follow HSPA+ 42Mbps upgrades with those that would bring its network 84Mbps service. As it's been focusing on introducing LTE instead, the carrier reportedly abandoned its future upgrade plans for HSPA+. That seemed like a rational enough decision, but now we're hearing that HSPA+ may yet see 84Mbps service, at least according to T-Mobile's CTO.

Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray recently participated in a question-and-answer session which T-Mobile published on its blog today. One question specifically regarded 84Mbps upgrades, and the chances of T-Mobile going ahead with them. Rather than the blanket dismissal we last heard, here Ray says that LTE is the clear focus, but that T-Mobile hasn't closed the books on HSPA+ yet, and will keep thinking about introducing 84Mbps service. Ray himself says he "would like to see both technologies advance".

Honestly, T-Mobile's going to have a lot on its plate as it attempts to get ready for LTE service starting in 2013. It might be nice to get a few phones supporting 84Mbps before then, and see service introduced in a few major markets, but considering how late to the LTE game T-Mobile already is, maybe it would be better off just concentrating on LTE for now.