Nortel, Sierra Wireless partner in broadband wireless

Nortel and Sierra Wireless are collaborating to jointly test and market solutions using high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), an emerging broadband wireless technology. The companies completed the live test calls using Sierra Wireless AirCard 850 wireless wide area network cards and commercial UMTS network equipment from Nortel.

Nortel recently announced plans for a major Pan-European HSDPA network deployment with mmO2 and is working with a number of other global operators on HSDPA trials and deployments in 2005. Commercial field trials with the Sierra Wireless AirCard 850 are expected to begin in 2005.

HSDPA is a migration technology for the UMTS wireless standard used by wireless operators across Europe, Japan and North America to deliver voice and data services.

The AirCard 850 utilizes the 2100 MHz UMTS frequency band. It is compatible with EDGE and GSM/GPRS networks on all four GSM frequency bands (850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz), for worldwide use in areas where a UMTS network connection is not available. Commercial availability of the AirCard 850 wireless network card is expected in the second half of 2005.