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Monday, March 29, 2010

Clearwire Paves Way for LTE in US

Source: Light Reading
Clearwire LLC is part of a group of operators and vendors that has asked the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards body to start work on specs that would allow TD-LTE to be deployed in the US in the 2.6GHz spectrum -- which is now used for WiMax -- in a move that further exposes the operator's interest in the competing proto-4G standard.

The proposal to adopt the 2496MHz-to-2690MHz frequency band in the US for TD-LTE, which was first highlighted on the "LTE Watch" blog, was accepted at a 3GPP meeting earlier this month. The acceptance is significant because it will enable Clearwire and other spectrum holders to deploy TD-LTE, which is the time division duplex (TDD) version of LTE, in the US.

See also, Clearwire to migrate to LTE? - Hyung

ZTE, China Mobile Test TD-LTE

Source: Light Reading
ZTE Corporation, a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced that, together with CMCC (China Mobile Communications Corporation), it has successfully completed a TD-LTE indoor MIMO networking performance test in Beijing, producing the world's first batch of TD-LTE performance evaluation data on indoor single/dual path cell throughput. The testing also produced data for indoor multi-UE circumstances.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Private Equity Firm Plans Open LTE Network to Challenge AT&T and Verizon

Source: GigaOM
A New York private equity firm plans to build a multibillion-dollar 4G wireless network that will cover most of the country by 2015. The ambitious plan by Harbinger Capital Partners relies on deploying a Long Term Evolution network over spectrum owned by a few satellite companies — and would create an open wholesale wireless network available to retail companies, PC manufacturers or anyone who wants to offer mobile broadband.

This could be a game changing move for US LTE market. Harbinger's FCC filing is here. - Hyung

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Verizon Wireless updates 700 MHz C-Block LTE specifications

Source: Verizon Wireless
Registration and sign-in required in order to download the document.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Huawei' s Live Demo of LTE-advanced Achieves World' s Fastest Speed of 1.2 Gb/second

Source: Huawei press release
Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, today announced that it has achieved the world' s fastest LTE-advanced downlink speeds of up to 1.2 Gb/s at CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

First LTE Phones Due From Samsung, MetroPCS

Source: PC Magazine
And the first 4G LTE phone in the United States will come from ... MetroPCS! MetroPCS and Samsung on Wednesday announced a partnership that includes the first CDMA/LTE phone in America, the SCH-r900, which will come in the second half of 2010.

Verizon’s Fiber-Optic Cell Site Links Provide Critical Capacity And Reliability For The New Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

Source: Verizon Wireless press release
From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®, Verizon Global Wholesale and Verizon Wireless announced today that Verizon Telecom’s ultra-reliable, variable capacity fiber-optic links between cell sites and switching facilities will provide critical support for the nation’s first 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network being built by Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless Deploys Camiant’s Policy Control Solution For LTE Network

Source: Verizon Wireless press release
From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®, Camiant, Inc., the leading provider of policy control technology, today announced that Verizon Wireless has selected Camiant’s Multimedia Policy Engine (MPE) as the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) for Verizon Wireless’ previously announced nationwide deployment of a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Camiant’s MPE will perform policy control in the LTE network for Internet Data-, IMS- and non-IMS-based services. In addition, Camiant’s MPE will also be the PCRF for all IMS based services over the existing 3G network.

Verizon Wireless Chooses 7 Layers To Provide Testing Services For LTE Devices

Source: Verizon Wireless press release
From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®, Verizon Wireless announced today it has selected 7 layers as a laboratory to test devices for operation on the nationwide 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network that Verizon Wireless is building on the Upper 700 MHz C-Block spectrum. 7 layers will validate that the devices meet the minimal performance and conformance specifications necessary to operate on the Verizon Wireless LTE network.

Verizon Wireless selects Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile backhaul solution for nation’s first 4G LTE network

Source: Alcatel-Lucent press release
From CTIA WIRELESS 2010®Verizon Wireless has selected Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile backhaul solution, which transports voice and data traffic from wireless base stations to the broad network, to support Verizon Wireless’ 3G network and prepare for its advanced 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.In 2009, Verizon Wireless selected Alcatel-Lucent as one of the providers of the LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) and Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) and parts of the IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS) network.

Samsung Mobile Announces Commercial LTE 4G Infrastructure and Handset at CTIA Wireles

Source: BusinessWire
Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., introduced today at International CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas one of the first commercially available LTE network infrastructures and LTE-enabled, multi-mode, CDMA, 4G handset, the Samsung SCH-r900.

Motorola Takes LTE Self-Organizing Network (SON) to Next Level for Greater Network Optimization and Savings

Source: Motorola press release
The Networks business of Motorola, Inc. today announced several improvements to its award-winning Long Term Evolution (LTE) self-organizing network (SON) solution that enables greater network optimization. These new features can also further simplify network management and reduce network operational expenses, bringing added value to Motorola’s LTE SON solution. The Motorola solution targets the complete operator lifecycle, from pre-launch to market maturity, with customer business models showing resource savings of up to 75 percent in planning and optimization activities.

Verizon LTE Gets Friendly

Source: Light Reading
Verizon Wireless says it's ready to start friendly user trials of deployed Long Term Evolution (LTE) markets in the US this summer but isn't saying yet exactly when the new technology will go commercial this year.

Sprint, Clearwire Warm up to LTE

Source: PC World
The CEOs of both Sprint Nextel and its WiMax partner, Clearwire, signaled on Wednesday that they might move to LTE (Long-Term Evolution) in the future.

See also, Clearwire to migrate to LTE? - Hyung

Qualcomm adds LTE to Gobi roadmap

Source: Rethink Wireless
Qualcomm may have found its Snapdragon processor in a WiMAX phone, but its other high profile product, the Gobi modem, is firmly fixed on LTE. The San Diego firm will add LTE in the next generation and is also looking, like rival Ericsson Mobile Platforms, to push its embedded module into a wider range of devices, looking beyond the laptop.

Official press release from Qualcomm is here. - Hyung

Anritsu Expands LTE Field Test Instrument Portfolio

Source: Anritsu press release
Anritsu Company, a global leader in LTE test solutions, expands its LTE test portfolio with the introduction of options for its MS2712E and MS2713E Spectrum Master handheld spectrum analyzers. The new options allow field engineers and technicians to conduct RF, modulation, and Over-the-Air (OTA) measurements on 10 MHz LTE signals during the deployment, installation, and operation of LTE networks.

Exalt to Demonstrate Live LTE-Ready Microwave Backhaul Network at CTIA Wireless 2010

Source: Exalt press release
Exalt Communications, the company that is reinventing microwave backhaul, will demonstrate at CTIA this week a live, hybrid TDM/IP end-to-end microwave backhaul network for mobile operator transport infrastructures from edge access cell sites to the aggregation and core networks. The LTE-ready network features the company’s extensive carrier-class product portfolio across multiple physical configurations, frequency bands, microwave transmission technologies and native TDM/IP traffic mix, for mobile backhaul applications with any combination of 2G, 3G and LTE. The demonstration network consists of three edge access links aggregated via a hub aggregation node and then backhauled to one high capacity TDM/IP core aggregation node.

Powerwave Expands Award-Winning Remote Radio Head Line with New Offerings to Support 700 MHz and 2.1 GHz Band LTE Networks

Source: Powerwave press release
Powerwave Technologies, Inc., a global leader in end-to-end wireless coverage and capacity solutions, today from International CTIA Wireless 2010, announced the expansion of the company’s award-winning remote radio head family to include two new products optimized for use in 700 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands – the two most dominant frequency bands in the U.S. being targeted near-term by major carriers for 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network deployments.

STC selects Alcatel-Lucent for end-to-end LTE trial in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Source: Alcatel-Lucent press release
Alcatel-Lucent today announced that it has been selected by STC (Saudi Telecom Company), the main telecommunications carrier in Saudi Arabia, to conduct an end-to-end Long Term Evolution (LTE) trial, to begin in the second half of 2010. This trial will enable STC to test the performance of LTE-based services and assess the related business models.

ZTE Launches World's First CDMA/LTE Dual-Mode Remote Radio Unit (RRU)

Source: ZTE press release
ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today launched its ZXSDR R8880 ─ the world’s first CDMA/LTE dual-mode Remote Radio Unit (RRU). ZTE’s ZXSDR R8880 dual-mode RRU currently supports 700 MHz and Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum band.

Wavesat Announces Sampling Milestone for Odyssey 9010 LTE Chipset

Source: Wavesat press release
Wavesat Inc., a leading supplier of Broadband Wireless semiconductor solutions, today announced that Alpha Networks of Hsinchu, ROC has sampled the Odyssey 9010, the first in Wavesat’s “9000” series of LTE chipsets, and has selected it for inclusion in a forthcoming line of USB dongles, CPEs (consumer premises equipment), and other consumer broadband devices.

Anite Leads the Way in LTE Carrier Acceptance Testing

Source: Anite press release
Anite, a global leader in testing technology for the wireless industry, today announced the release of its first LTE operator acceptance script package. The release of CAS (Carrier Acceptance Scripts) V5.0 constitutes a significant LTE device testing milestone as this is the first package to support the LTE device acceptance requirements of a major network operator.

Verizon Wireless Focuses On Efforts To Ensure That Its LTE Network Will Be The Largest 4G Network In The Nation

Source: Verizon Wireless press release
As tech watchers prepare for next week’s CTIA WIRELESS 2010® convention in Las Vegas, Verizon Wireless confirmed today that it’s on track with building the nation’s first 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless network. A host of ecosystem partners, along with the company’s network engineers, equipment vendors, backhaul providers and device design experts, are preparing for the launch of the highly anticipated fourth-generation network later this year.

Verizon Wireless engineers report trials showing peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps and expects LTE average data rates of 5 to 12 Mbps on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world environments.

Motorola Adds Industry’s First TD-LTE 4Tx/8Rx Radio Head to 4G LTE-Advanced Capable eNodeB

Source: Motorola press release
The Networks business of Motorola, Inc. today announced the addition of a TD-LTE-Advanced capable 4Tx/8Rx radio head with multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) to its 4G - WBR 700 Series LTE eNodeB portfolio. This TD-LTE solution – while similar in size to a standard 2Tx/2Rx LTE eNodeB – enables advanced MIMO schemes including multi user (MU) MIMO and beam-forming to provide unprecedented capacity and coverage. The WBR 700 TD-LTE 4Tx/8Rx with MIMO solution will be displayed in Motorola’s booth at International CTIA Wireless 2010.

SwissQual Offers Drive Test Solution for LTE 19th March 2010

Source: SwissQual press release
SwissQual, the independent Swiss network quality measurement company, is now offering a drive test solution for LTE network testing. This new solution offers a Diversity probe providing RF scanning together with application layer testing including FTP, HTTP and video streaming.

AT&T, Verizon Undecided on LTE Pricing

Source: Light Reading
AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless both say they are undecided on how they will charge for Long Term Evolution (LTE) data plans when they are launched over the course of this year and next.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Clearwire to migrate to LTE?

According to the document (TSG-RAN RP-100335) submitted during the 3GPP TSG RAN Plenary meeting #47 (Mar. 16~19, Vienna), Clearwire and Sprint are part of the group, which include China Mobile, that proposed the work item for 2600 MHz LTE TDD frequency band for the US. The specified bandwidth according to the proposal is 2496 to 2690 MHz, which includes the bands on which Clearwire currently runs its WiMAX service (see Sizing up the Competitive Opportunities for Verizon (LTE) and Clearwire (WiMAX), Maravedis). This strongly implies that Clearwire has TDD version of LTE (TD-LTE) deployment in sight for its current TDD spectrum. If this happens indeed, it may significantly alter the courses of both LTE TDD and WiMAX markets.

- Hyung

AlcaLu Bolsters LTE Core Strategy

Source: Light Reading
Alcatel-Lucent is making its move on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) evolved packet core (EPC), today announcing its full contingent of products and filling some gaps left by last year's announcement.

Telstra to begin LTE trials in May

Source: Telstra press release
Telstra will start Australian trials of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in May, to assess its capability and performance as the next generation evolution for the Next G" network.

Telstra will spend the next three to six months testing the feasibility and technical capability of LTE for future commercialisation and will draw on three of the most prominent providers of the mobile technology industry for the tests, including its long standing network partner, Ericsson. Joining the testing ranks will be Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks.

Russia's Svyazinvest chooses LTE for 4G network

Source: Reuters
Russian state telecoms giant Svyazinvest has chosen long-term evolution (LTE) technology for its fourth-generation mobile networks, its chief executive said, another win for LTE over rival technology WiMax.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Qualcomm Unveils LTE Plans for India

Source: Light Reading
Qualcomm Inc. shook up the mobile broadband market today with plans to bid for 2.3GHz spectrum in the upcoming auction in India. If successful, the company plans to introduce TD-LTE technology into the Indian market with the help of local network operator partners.

Qualcomm's official press release is here. - Hyung

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sequans Announces First LTE Chip

Source: Sequans press release
4G chipmaker Sequans today announced that its first LTE chip, the SQN3010, will soon be sampling with key customers. The chip has been in development for many months and will be delivered first to China Mobile, the leading proponent of TD-LTE technology, who selected Sequans to provide TD-LTE chips and USB dongles for the world’s first TD-LTE demonstration network that China Mobile will deploy at World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, which begins in May.

MetroPCS Selects Gemalto to Provide LTE Universal Integrated Circuit Cards and Over-the-air Platform

Source: Gemalto press release
Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, today announced MetroPCS has selected Gemalto to provide a Long Term Evolution (LTE) over-the-air platform and Universal Integrated Circuit Cards for its 2010 fourth generation LTE broadband service launch. Gemalto’s technology will enable MetroPCS to provide its subscribers with high speed Internet access from their mobile devices. MetroPCS, the fifth largest facilities-based carrier in the United States, offers unlimited, flat-rate, no signed contract wireless services to its more than 6.6 million subscribers.

SingTel and Ericsson ride the waves of LTE technology

Source: Ericsson press release
Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) and Ericsson today unveiled their LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology trial showcase at SingTel’s headquarters, Comcentre. The showcase in Singapore is the first among SingTel Group’s regional LTE trials to better understand the field experience of LTE.

IMTC is Selected by GSMAs VoLTE Initiative

Source: IMTC press release
The International Multimedia Telecommunications Consortium (IMTC) is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the GSMA’s Voice over LTE (VoLTE) initiative to develop usage profiles / specifications and then conduct interoperability testing events for the voice over LTE profile, previously known as the One Voice profile. The GSMA’s VoLTE initiative was set up to drive the global mobile industry towards a standard way of delivering voice and messaging services for Long-Term Evolution (LTE), and will provide a seamless IMS-based solution for voice and text messaging for next generation mobile broadband networks.

Monday, March 15, 2010

LTE deployments driving new distributed antenna deployments

Source: Connected Planet
The advent of long-term evolution (LTE) in the US is spurring a lot of sectors of wireless industry, from device to network infrastructure to application developers. But one relatively minor product sector in wireless is seeing a particularly high upsurge in growth due to 4G deployments: the distributed antenna system (DAS).

Legal Action Could Delay UK's LTE Spectrum Auction

Source: cellular-news
The threat of legal action could delay the UK's planned radio spectrum auction next year which is aiming to release capacity for LTE networks, reports the Financial Times. The possibility of legal action come from two of the country's mobile networks, Vodafone and O2 and the dominant landline operator, BT

AirWalk Communications Migrates to LTE Wireless Technology

Source: AirWalk press release
AirWalk Communications, the innovator in IP-based CDMA cellular radio network equipment, has collaborated with Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. and Aricent® to develop an LTE picocell.

Friday, March 12, 2010

AT&T CEO unsure if LTE will trigger pricing changes

Source: FierceWireless
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said he did not know whether the advent of LTE networks would cause wireless carriers to shift to usage-based pricing for mobile data, but he reiterated his position that such a move would happen.

EXFO Announces Acquisition of Global Wireless Test Specialist NetHawk Oyj

Source: EXFO press release
NetHawk has built a strong portfolio of 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE wireless protocol analyzers and simulators over almost 20 years to assume No. 2 position in both product lines. Acquisition moves EXFO among top five suppliers in telecom test and service assurance and transforms company into a global force in the wireless segment.

Verizon: Look for LTE handset in mid-2011

Source: FierceWireless
A key Verizon Wireless executive said the carrier plans to debut an LTE handset three to six months after it commercially launches LTE service. However, Verizon's LTE gadgets likely will sport dual-mode chips so they are backward compatible to the carrier's 1xEVDO Rev. A network.

Court Could Halt German LTE Auction

Source: Light Reading
A regional administrative court in Germany could halt the proceedings of the mobile broadband spectrum auction that's due to start in April, a move that would delay operators' plans for deploying Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

ANADIGICS Introduces Industry’s Most Efficient Power Amplifiers for Emerging 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ Mobile Market

Source: ANADIGICS press release
ANADIGICS, Inc. today introduced a new set of multi-mode, high-performance power amplifiers (PAs) designed for wireless datacards and handsets for the rapidly emerging 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) and advanced HSPA+ technologies. These new single-band PAs are built using the fourth generation of ANADIGICS’ patented HELP™ (High-Efficiency-at-Low-Power) technology to deliver exceptional performance to customers making USB modules and new generation handsets based on the LTE standard.

Belgium to auction 3G and 4G spectrum in September 2010

Source: TeleGeography
Belgian authorities are planning to offer a fourth 3G licence alongside five 2600MHz concessions in September 2010, according to Rethink Wireless, citing reports from local national De Standaard. Belgium has already issued three UMTS licences – to Belgacom, Mobistar and BASE in 2001 – but at that date failed to sell a fourth licence that was on offer. It is understood that the Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunications (BIPT) will offer 15MHz of 3G spectrum for a minimum bid of EUR80 million (USD109.2 million), although it will also reportedly allow the purchase of three separate 5MHz blocks with a reserve price of EUR40 million each. Those operators believed to be interested in the sale include Belgian cablecos Telenet and Voo.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Network Testing Promises Significantly Faster Speeds Than Current 3G Networks

Source: Verizon Wireless press release
Verizon Wireless announced today that its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network field trials in the United States have demonstrated wireless data speeds that are significantly faster than today’s 3G network speeds. Trials in Boston and Seattle indicate the network is capable of peak download speeds of 40 to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and peak upload speeds of 20 to 25 Mbps. The speeds are significantly faster than Verizon Wireless and other wireless providers’ current or promised 3G network speeds.

Navajo Nation May Get Cutting-edge LTE Network

Source: PC World
If a pending federal grant is approved, one of the first LTE (Long-Term Evolution) wireless broadband networks in the U.S. will be built across 15,120 square miles of desert.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Worldwide Handset Semiconductor Revenue: WCDMA Up, GSM & CDMA Down, LTE Emerges

Source: In-Stat press release
WCDMA handset semiconductor revenue will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 10% between 2009 and 2014, exceeding $30 billion by 2014. Overall handset semiconductor revenue will see a more moderate five-year CAGR of 2.1%, as semiconductor revenue for CDMA and GSM handsets declines throughout the forecast period, according to market research firm In-Stat.

Wi-LAN eyes Nortel's LTE patent portfolio

Source: Reuters
Wi-LAN Inc said on Wednesday it was eyeing bankrupt Nortel Networks Corp's fourth-generation wireless technology patents, and had held preliminary talks with bankruptcy trustees.

LTE More Than Higher Speeds, Says Nokia Siemens

Source: PC World
Attention has been focused on the higher speeds that will be offered by next generation LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile networks, but improved latency will be equally important to users, according to Nokia Siemens.

MSF Introduces Robustness Testing at LTE IOT event

Source: MultiService Forum press release
At the upcoming LTE IOT interoperability event, MSF will introduce robustness testing. MSF is the first industry forum to include security testing in its program. The MSF LTE IOT event will take place March 15-26.

LTE Chipset Makers Position for Long Term Endeavor

Source: In-Stat press release
LTE is a great and truly evolutionary communications platform and LTE will become the dominant 4G technology. However, deployment of LTE will be gradual and protracted. Nevertheless, chipset manufacturers, such as Broadcom, Infineon and Qualcomm, have established LTE product development plans, according to market research firm In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). Further, market entrants, including companies such as Altair Semiconductor, Beceem, BitWave, Comsys, Sequans and Wavesat, are hoping the shift to LTE opens new opportunity.

LTE is the trigger for greater network sharing

Source: FierceWireless
While the concept of network sharing has gained support over the past decade, European mobile operators have approached the opportunity with great caution. The central promise of significant capex and opex savings has proved elusive for many that have attempted to construct sharing partnerships, with the merging of 2G legacy networks now considered too complex and costly to attempt.

Verizon to double number of LTE markets 15 months after launch

Source: FierceWireless
Verizon Wireless will double the number of its LTE markets to between 50 and 60 markets 15 months after in its initial launch, according to the carrier's CTO, Tony Melone. The carrier has repeatedly said it plans to launch 25 to 30 commercial LTE markets in the later part of this year and fill out its 3G footprint (which is currently deployed across 94 percent of Verizon's cell sites) with LTE by the end of 2013.

Multicore Processors Target LTE

Source: Light Reading
The coming generation of Long Term Evolution (LTE) equipment could be the first big telecom showcase for multicore processors, according to the latest Heavy Reading 4G/LTE Insider report.

Icera Demos World's First Dual Mode LTE / HSPA Soft Modem

Source: Icera press release
Icera Inc., the Mobile Broadband semiconductor company, is the first baseband chipset company to demonstrate a dual mode LTE / HSPA modem running on a commercial USB data stick, showing LTE (5MHz) / HSPA handover, during an end-to-end streaming HD video download at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Icera worked closely with Anite and Rohde & Schwarz, who provided test equipment and support for the demos.

3G Americas Publishes White Paper on Key Considerations for Adding LTE to GSM-UMTS Networks

Source: 3G Americas press release
3G Americas, a wireless industry trade association representing the GSM family of technologies including LTE, today announced that it has published an informational white paper titled, GSM-UMTS Network Migration to LTE: LTE and 2G-3G Interworking Functions, that examines key steps for introducing LTE technology into existing GSM-UMTS networks.

The report can be downloaded from here. - Hyung

MetroPCS to tap the potential of prepaid 4G

Source: Connected Planet