Mobile networks are rapidly transitioning away from older 3G-based technologies like HSPA+.. While the "H+" icon still appears on many smartphone status bars, the actual infrastructure supporting it is vanishing gloally in favor of 4G and 5G.
The 21 Mbps to 20 Gbps Speed Gap
HSPA+, or Evolved High Speed Packet Access, represents a legacy tier of 3G technology that was once a cornerstone of mobile data. As the report indicates, this network was an iterative improvement over earlier HSDPA systems and was sometimes marketed as a 4G service following its launch in 2008.
The performance gap between this aging standard and modern connectivity is immense. At its peak, HSPA+ facilitated download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second. In contrast, modern 5G netwoks can deliver download speeds reaching as high as 20 gigabits per second, making the older 3G stack appear entirely obsolete by comparison.
The 2022 US Shutdown and the End of Domestic H+
The United States officially moved to retire its 3G infrastructure in 2022. According to the report, this landmark shift means that no HSPA+ signal can be transmitted from the U.S., a change that also applies to territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This domestic retirement mirrors a massive global migration toward more advanced standards. Current statistics show that roughly 55% of global users now rely on 5G, while approximately 38% utilize 4G. This shift leaves very few regions on the planet that still actively support the HSPA+ standard.
Why Rural Canada and Africa Still Use HSPA+
Certain geographic pockets continue to maintain HSPA+ connectivity despite the global trend toward 5G.. some carriers in Canada and Mexico keep these networks alive specifically to serve very rural or underserved areas where newer infrastructure has not yet arrived.
In parts of Africa,the HSPA+ standard persists for different economic reasons. Some carriers in these countries maintain the technology by retrofitting older base stations, which serves as a more cost-effective solution than a complete transition to 4G LTE or 5G base stations.
The Mystery of the Persistent H+ Software Code
Smartphone manufacturers continue to include legacy code that displays the H+ icon, even when the underlying network is gone. The report notes that while the symbol may persist on screens for a while, the actual network infrastructure to support it is disappearing in most places.
This discrepancy leaves several questions for the industry. It remains unclear why manufacturers have not updated mobile operating systems to remove these obsolete icons, and there is no definitive timelline for when the "recalcitrant pockets" of HSPA+ in Africa and North America will finally be phased out in favor of spectrum refarming.
Comments 0