T-Mobile has ramped up its mobile broadband platform, claiming to be the first operator to offer nationwide High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

HSUPA will enable users to upload data at speeds of to 1.4Mbps, around five times that of current mobile upload speeds.

The growing adoption of mobile social networks is driving user demand to upload images and other content directly from their mobile phones, T-Mobile said.

The operator has also upgraded the underlying download capability of the HSDPA-enabled 3G network to 7.2Mbps, initially within the M25 but rolling out to other major cities during the second half of 2008.

This upgrade should give most customers in those areas real maximum mobile broadband speeds of up to 4.5Mbps.

T-Mobile has also launched a new online mobile broadband checker which allows users to verify coverage for a specific postcode.

"Mobile broadband has come of age. Today, 25 per cent of new contract customers are signing up and we expect to quadruple our user base in 2008," said Jim Hyde, chief executive of T-Mobile UK.

"We knew mobile broadband would burst on the scene and our continued investment in new technology is paying dividends for customers seeking a fast, consistent service which offers great value."

Recent research from analyst firm Point Topic has shown that mobile internet adoption is still relatively low.