LTE watch Weekly Summary [7/4~10, 2011]

Infrastructure

ZTE Unveils World’s First Commercial LTE Micro Base Station
Source: ZTE press release
ZTE Corporation has launched the ZXSDR BS8920, the world’s smallest commercially available LTE base station. The BS8920 also has the largest capacity of any LTE micro base station at 150Mbps, with 2X10W transmit power and 2T4R modulation for a large footprint, and offers significantly lower TCO due to reduced hardware, power consumption and deployment costs.

Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) announce availability of New LTE-ready cross-polarized triple-band base station antenna
Source: RFS press release
Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) announced the availability of a new cross-polarized, triple-band base station antenna that delivers an unmatched combination of design and performance innovations, including LTE 800 support.

Cellphone-Mate, Inc. Announces First FCC Approved 4G LTE Band Bidirectional Amplifier
Source: Cellphone-Mate press release
Cellphone-Mate announced that it is now taking orders for the industry's first and only aftermarket FCC Approved, 4G LTE band bidirectional amplifier, the SureCall® CM700V 70dB and will begin shipping product full-scale in late July.

Testing

GCF launches certification for TD-LTE devices
Source: GCF press release
The Global Certification Forum (GCF) announced the extension of GCF Certification to TD-LTE mobile devices that operate in the 2570-2620 MHz band. This is a new milestone in the GCF LTE certification programme. Designated E-UTRA Band 38 by 3GPP, the 2570-2620 MHz band has been allocated for TD-LTE in a number of important markets, most notably China. GCF Operator Member China Mobile played a key role in defining the GCF Certification Criteria for Band 38 mobile devices.

Interview

TD-LTE and the Lai of the land
Source: telecoms.com
TD-LTE is gaining traction. We take a look at some deployments around the world and catch up with Michael Lai, CEO of Malaysian operator Packet One.

Analysis

GSA confirms 218 operators investing in LTE, and forecasts 91 commercial networks by 2012
Source: GSA
The GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association) has published an update to its Evolution to LTE report which confirms 218 operators are now investing in LTE. The report covers both LTE FDD and LTE TDD systems and confirms that 166 firm commercial LTE network deployments are in progress or planned in 62 countries, including 24 networks which have commercially launched. A further 52 operators in 19 additional countries are engaged in LTE technology trials, tests or studies.

Market

Japan Communications Inc (JCI) to provide cloud computing on NTT DOCOMO's LTE network
Source: JCI press release
On June 30, 2011, Japan Communications Inc. submitted an LTE network Layer 2 interconnection
request to NTT DOCOMO, Inc. Interconnection between NTT docomo and JCI, and other MVNOs, is a mandated condition of the LTE spectrum license. This marks the start of interconnection negotiations. This interconnection will drive the growth of “true” wireless Cloud Computing based on LTE and will accelerate deployment of a wide range of LTE-based commercial services.

NTT Docomo to lease out LTE network
Source: Telecompaper
NTT Docomo plans to lease access to its high-speed mobile communications network based on LTE technology to other companies as early as this autumn, reports The Nikkei.

Raytheon Awarded Nation's First Competitive Public Safety Long Term Evolution Broadband Communications Network Contract
Source: Raytheon press release
Raytheon Company has been awarded the first competitive Public Safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) contract in the nation, as well as the first contract under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), for recipients of the FCC 700 MHz Broadband Waiver.

Sony Ericsson, China Mobile to develop 4G phones
Source: China Daily
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB will cooperate with China Mobile Holdings Ltd to develop mobile phones that support China's domestic fourth-generation telecommunications technology, Sony Ericsson's global president said. Bert Nordberg, president and chief executive officer of Sony Ericsson Mobile, said the company hopes to work on the time division long-term evolution (TD-LTE) technology, which is going global.

Rogers lights up Canada's first LTE network
Source: Rogers press release
Rogers Communications Inc. announced the commercial launch of Canada's first Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, bringing the latest global wireless technology to the Ottawa region. Rogers also announced that network rollout to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal will occur this fall, and that LTE-enabled smartphones from Samsung and HTC will be available later this year.

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