Internet high speed packet access (UMTS) (I-HSPA)

InternetHSPA (I-HSPA) is a combined high-speed technology for pure data transfer. This technology is intended to reduce the cost of transferring large volumes of data in the backhaul in UMTS networks.

I-HSPA is a simplified technology of High Speed Downlink Packet Access( HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access( HSUPA), which is operated over UMTS networks with the same terminal equipment. However, the data stream is routed from the base station directly to the Internet past various UMTS nodes for switching and signaling. With I-HSPA, which uses HSDPA and HSUPA, broadband data transmission linksare established in the uplink and downlink.

The advantage lies in the cost reduction for the backhaul and also in the avoidance of oversizing the switching network nodes.

Technically, I-HSPA is realized by upgrading the UMTS base stations. I-HSPA technology, which does not support voice communication but only data communication, is particularly interesting for data terminals such as PDAs, notebooks, gaming computers and music terminals.