Ericsson to Invest in Aging Data Network Mobileburn reported that Ericsson announced that it expects to make its 1Mbps EDGE Evolution network upgrades available by 2009.

EDGE Evolution is a software upgrade for the existing EDGE data network hardware that runs on GSM networks. EDGE Evolution devices will be capable of data rates as much as 300 percent faster than current EDGE systems. This means that GSM device users will be able to enjoy connections of up to 1Mbps in speed - similar to those currently enjoyed by users on CDMA EV-DO and WCDMA 3G networks.

Ericsson claims that it supplies its EDGE equipment to over half of the 196 EDGE networks that are in use throughout the world today. With the advent of 3G and especially HSPDA for GSM phones seeming like the future, is interesting that money and time are still being put in the EDGE network.