# Meaning of cellular data symbols

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cellular-data-symbols/692800>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 10, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cellular-data-symbols/692800 "2014-07-10T22:16:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cellular-data-symbols/692800/1 "2014-07-10T22:16:42Z")

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Hello Everyone,

I have a T-Mobile Nexus 4 cell phone and on the notification bar at the top there is a signal strength icon and next to that there is an icon that displays what type of data connection you have. The three possible symbols are 3G, E and H. I know what 3G and E stand for ( at least I think the E stands for Edge), but I have no idea what the H means. I was on the phone with T-Mobile yesterday and the rep had no idea either. No big deal, but I am curious as to what the mysterious H means.

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**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaning-of-cellular-data-symbols/692800/2 "2014-07-10T22:26:10Z")

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[HSPA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Speed_Packet_Access). Depending on who you ask, either it’s “real 3G” or “3.5G”. Either way, it’s a faster connection than when you see the 3G icon.