Telstra: No 14.4Mbps devices for Next G

Telstra has revealed that no 14.4Mbps devices will be available for its Next G network -- instead the telco will leapfrog from 7.2Mbps hardware straight to kit capable of delivering speeds in the "early 20s".

Although Telstra's 3G network is capable of a 14.4Mpbs downlink, hardware available for Next G -- data cards and mobile phones -- are still languishing in the 3.6Mpbs range.

Mike Wright, Telstra's head of wireless, said the company is not disappointed that equipment makers have yet to keep up with Next G's speeds: "It's not just about having the devices -- it's all about carrying the traffic more efficiently. It gives us the speed we need collectively."

Wright said data cards capable of delivering a downlink of 7.2Mbps will be available "soon". However, customers hoping for 14.4Mbps may be disappointed -- Telstra plans to skip any 14.4Mbps devices and go straight to hardware that can manage speeds in the early 20s Mbps.

The telco declined to give a timescale on when such devices may be available.

Telstra, however, has previously announced that it expects Next G to be upgraded to 40Mbps in 2009.

There are now more than one million Next G users.