Some interesting news going round is that Apple’s second generation 3G iPhone could possibly launch with support of the super fast 42Mbps HSPA data speeds, made possible via an advanced HSPA tech known as Evolved HSPA. However, one must realise that speeds of that magnitude are usually reserved for proof of concept technology and experimental trials, so best to keep a little sceptical on this one.

Rumour has it that a Telstra Wireless executive told Australia’s ChannelNews the next Apple iPhone incarnation is expected to be capably of extreme super fast 3G speeds of 42Mbps and upwards. The executive said: “We know what is coming, we have seen the new device and it will be available on our network as soon as it is launched in the USA. By Xmas this phone will be capable of 42mbs which will make it faster than a lot of broadband offerings and the fastest iPhone on any network in the world.”

The same executive has stated that Telstra already has 3G iPhones for network testing and they will go live “very soon after its June 9 unveiling.”

So, let’s take a look at this… a Telstra top gun seems to confirm the Apple 3G iPhone will be announced at Apple’s WWDC on 9th June; seems somewhat lax of this exec to let that slip out, so the question here is did this Telstra executive out the arrival of the 3G iPhone even before Apple?

Another point is 3G/HSPA seems to be just too good to be true. The States are about to see their first HSPA network fully up and running via AT&T’s network upgrades. However, this HSPA only delivers 1.4Mbps downstream and 800Kbps upstream, which is some way from the rumoured 42Mbps rumoured to be on the Apple 3G iPhone.

Is Telstra expecting an Apple 3G iPhone that supports Evolved HSPA, or was the executive only miss quoted? His quote was: “faster than a lot of broadband offerings” and would be the “fastest iPhone” in the world. Thing is, Evolved HSPA would make the 3G iPhone the fastest in the world.

So perhaps what the Telstra exec actually said was the Apple 3G iPhone would be capable of 4 to 2 Mbps and was misquoted as 42Mbps.

Source — appleinsider