Although many have prophetized the death of 3G networks in favor of faster 4G cellular connectivity, Novatel Wireless just showcased the Ovation MC545 dual-carrier HSPA+ USB modem that reached an over-the-air download speed of 40.5 megabits per second, demonstrating there's still a lot of life left in already mundane 3G cellular networks.

To achieve these speeds, Novatel's Ovation MC545 uses two high speeds 3G connections at the same time, much like adding two modems to your laptop, theoretically doubling the available transfer rates. 

In order for this to function the cellular network has to be Dual-Carrier HSPA (DC-HSPA+) compatible, this standard supporting a theoretical peak downlink rates of up to 42 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps on the uplink, the Ovation MC545 droping to HSPA transfer speeds when this technology is not supported.

"With our relentless commitment to ensure our customers' needs are met on schedule, we are very honored to support Telefonica Moviles with their DC-HSPA+ launch," said Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless.

"In our development efforts, we emphasize providing the best mobile broadband experience and ease-of-use for consumers and we're excited to be launching this first device as a part of a broader next-generation portfolio rolling out during the next two quarters."

For now, the modem supports the 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands, this being launched as a Movistar exclusive in Spain, other carriers around the world following, although North America will see this sometime later since it isn't compatible with the 3G frequencies used by US and Canadian carriers.