In a move that will allow both carriers to offer a wider range of cellphone models as well as maintain higher mobile internet speeds, both Telus and Bell made separate announcements this morning declaring their investments in adding HSPA (the data connection used by Rogers and Fido for the iPhone 3G and other smartphones) to their networks by 2010 and 4G LTE, the next level of wireless internet service quickly being adopted by cellular carriers around the world, shortly after.

High-speed internet service is currently in its third generation, commonly referred to as 3G and here in Canada is represented by two technologies; High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) which is used by Rogers and Fido to offer data connections for the Apple iPhone 3G and BlackBerry Bold, and Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) which is used by Bell and Telus to offer a data connection for the Samsung Instinct and the upcoming BlackBerry Storm. While both standards are capable of delivering fast internet access, HSPA has proven to be the more popular standard amongst smartphone manufacturers allowing Rogers to grab the most popular handsets first.

Bell and Telus will not be using HSPA to replace their current EVDO service, but rather to overlay the one standard onto the same network, meaning that their customers will have the choice of using either a handset that supports EVDO or one that supports HSPA.

Both carriers hope to make the change to HSPA by 2010, and in the case of Bell, specifically before the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

According to Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle, adding HSPA to their service “will give our clients more wireless functionality including; international roaming, fast network speeds and a compelling selection of globally-compatible handsets and devices.”

In addition to increasing their selection of supported handsets, the move to HSPA for both Bell and Telus will also position them to better make the transition to the fourth generation of wireless internet service, commonly referred to as 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) a new standard that is being adopted by more than thirty wireless carriers around the world and will position them to continue to have better access to new smartphones and related services.

Stephen Howe, Senior Vice President, Wireless Network and Chief Technology Officer for Bell Mobility offered this statement, "This broad global technology ecosystem will mean a fast, efficient and cost-effective network transition to 4G LTE, and access to the broadest possible range of next-generation phones and data services."