A new type of mobile broadband, which will allow users to upload to the internet while on the move, will be launched in the UK today.
UK network operator T-Mobile is to launch its new, faster, mobile broadband service today.
The firm's launch of high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) marks the first time in which the broadband technology has been made widely available in Britain. Many operators, including T-Mobile, are already offering the similarly named high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) broadband service to the market.
HSUPA differs from HSDPA - which is also known as "super-3G" for its comparatively rapid connection speeds - in that it allows users to upload content to the internet, rather than merely download from it. The enhanced flexibility of this system makes it particularly suited to small businesses which depend on mobile internet, and on people who want to maintain their own websites while on the move.
The new HSUPA service is currently only to be made available to Londoners, ahead of a future national roll-out.
Commenting, chief executive of T-Mobile UK Jim Hyde said: "Mobile Broadband has come of age. Today, 25 per cent of new contract customers are signing up [to HSDPA] and we expect to quadruple our user base in 2008. We knew mobile broadband would burst on the scene."
Mr Hyde added that the launch of HSUPA would be particularly useful to people who wanted to update their personal networking pages with photos and other content while on their laptops and mobile phones.
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