Next generation wireless technology HSDPA is set to grow massively over the next two years, according to analyst firm Ovum.

Western European HSDPA (high speed data packet access) usage is set to grow from half a million connections in 2006 to 16.5m by the end of 2008, as operators start to adopt the new wireless technology.

'2008 will be the year when the HSDPA market truly takes off,' said Julien Grivolas, wireless technology analyst with Ovum. 'This is when HSDPA mobile phone handsets become widely available to the public, more affordable, and therefore reach the mass market.'

The technology, which will allow higher speed downloads to laptops and mobile phones, is expected to enhance data applications, including web browsing and content downloading, says Ovum.

'Until [2008] that point, HSDPA will remain a data card market for enterprises,' said Grivolas. 'In the initial stages, operators will focus their launches on business use through laptops via data cards.'

'Because HSDPA can deliver the real benefits of 3G, its fast development will have a considerable impact on the success of alternative broadband wireless technologies such as mobile WiMAX,' said Grivolas.

Ovum predicts that there will be more than 50 million HSDPA connections in Western Europe by the end of the decade.

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