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How to joinApril 15, 2009: 31 network operators have now committed to deploy 3GPP LTE systems, according to latest research by GSA, the Global mobile Suppliers Association. The current status of LTE worldwide is shown in an update of the GSA Information Paper – Evolution to LTE, published on April 15th, 2009.
The Evolution to LTE information paper contains concise information about the business drivers, objectives and targets for LTE – Long Term Evolution and SAE – System Architecture Evolution, including network operator commitments and deployment/launch plans, device and platforms availability, latest trials results, spectrum, and plans for future evolution of LTE for consideration for the ITU IMT-Advanced standard.
Business users and consumers can today browse the Internet or send and receive e-mails using HSPA-enabled notebooks, or using HSPA modems including USB dongles, as well as send and receive video or music using their 3G/HSPA phones. Several operators are upgrading their networks this year with evolved HSPA (HSPA+) technology using 64 QAM modulation, enabling up to 21 Mbps downlink peak data speeds. Combining with 2×2 MIMO will mean 42 Mbps as a future step when devices come to market that support these speeds, and even higher speeds are anticipated in the standards.
LTE is the next step in the user experience which will further enhance more demanding applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services. LTE will deliver significant further capacity, data rate speed and throughput enhancements, and reduced latency, to support new services and features requiring higher levels of capability and performance.
LTE is crucial to accommodate the expected huge data service traffic growth and reduces the cost per Gigabyte delivered, which is essential for addressing the mass market. The new system includes support of a full IP-based network, and harmonization with legacy 3GPP systems (GSM, GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA-HSPA) and other radio access technologies.
The GSA Information Paper notes that up to 12 LTE networks are expected to launch commercial services in 2010, in North America, Europe and Asia. LTE is on track, attracting global industry support. With the HSPA mobile broadband eco-system in place, LTE is the natural migration choice for GSM/HSPA operators. LTE is also the next generation mobile broadband system of choice of leading CDMA operators, with leading players expected to be in the forefront of service introduction.
The Evolution to LTE Information Paper published by GSA is available now as a free download at www.gsacom.com/downloads/pdf/lte_3gpp.php4
The worldwide map of LTE Network Operator Commitments is available as a PDF at http://www.gsacom.com/gsm_3g/info_papers.php4 and as a JPEG image file at
http://www.gsacom.com/news/statistics.php4
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