Just when you thought the 7.2Mbps downlink speeds of HSDPA (which are usually only available in limited number of urban areas) was impressive, NTT DoCoMo have revealed that they’ve recorded a 250Mbps downlink using the new Super 3G technology they’ve been trialing in Yokosuka, Japan since February.  Super 3G, which is also known as LTE (Long Term Evolution), has been in theory earmarked for several carriers in a variety of locations, but NTT DoCoMo’s are some of the first results from an actual wireless environment.  They expect the network – which has a theoretical maximum downlink of 300Mbps and uplink of 75Mbps – to be technically ready for launch by 2009. 

Super 3G uses four MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) antennas on the base station and makes use of the 20MHz frequency band.  The carrier has been performing indoor tests since July 2007, and will now concentrate on the verification and validation process, including base station handover, while Super 3G undergoes standardisation by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).