Prototype Novatel Wireless MiFi Unit does 18Mbps 4G over-the-air

One of the most valuable pieces of kit in my mobile hardware collection is my trusty Novatel Wireless 2352 unit that I have been testing for a long time. Novatel sent me a review unit a while ago and goodness me I’ve been putting it through it’s paces. It’s simply fantastic to be able to bring up a wireless hotspot wherever I go.

It’s so good, that I turned to Novatel when I was in New York and needed a decent CDMA data connection. I bought one of Verizon’s branded Novatel units and used it on a pay-as-you-go basis for a week. Super, super, SUPER fast. Faster than my hotel’s fixed line internet connection — a victory for both Novatel and Verizon.

Turns out that a 4G Novatel MiFi unit might not be very far away. This is particularly relevant given that Sprint are busy rolling out 4G in various metropolitan areas across the United States right now. This week, Novatel performed a test with one of their 4G prototype units, thus:

Novatel today announced that it has successfully completed over the air testing of its new MiFi(TM) Intelligent Mobile Hotspot prototype based on 4G-WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). Novatel’s WiMAX implementation immediately achieved throughput of 18Mbps in over-the-air testing and can support theoretical peak throughput speeds exceeding 30Mbps downlink and 10Mbps uplink in a 10 MHz channel.

Good good. More please! I’m looking forward to the point whereby I can actually use a MiFi unit to send a 200mb Mobile Industry Review video up to the web in a couple of seconds.