Leading Telecommunications Vendors and Operators Join Forces to Foster the Realisation of Next Generation Mobile Broadband Networks Based on 3GPP LTE/SAE Standards

(Business News & Technology News, 4 May 2007)

A group of world leading telecom technology manufacturers and network operators comprised of Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, France Telecom/Orange, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nortel, T-Mobile, and Vodafone have announced a joint initiative aimed at driving forward the realisation of the next-generation of high performance mobile broadband networks based on 3GPP Release 8 "Long Term Evolution / System Architecture Evolution" (LTE/SAE) specifications.

The LTE/SAE Trial Initiative heralds a new chapter for the mobile industry with network systems targeted to support mobile broadband peak data rates exceeding 100 Mbps. In line with 3GPP requirements, this next-generation technology aims to provide a mobile broadband service that outperforms both 3GPP Release 6 HSPA, as well as current fixed line DSL data rates while maintaining and extending the highly successful mobility and coverage benefits of 3GPP networks such as GSM. 3GPP LTE/SAE networks are expected to enable lower operating costs for operators as well as higher data-rate, lower latency end-user services, and an improved end-user wireless mobility experience.

To meet these objectives, LTE radio systems are designed to provide both greater levels of radio spectrum efficiency through use of new radio transmission schemes and advanced multi-antenna technologies, and a more flexible utilisation of radio spectrum through support of carrier bandwidths ranging from 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz (subject to 3GPP ratification).

The companies participating in this initiative will collaborate on demonstrating the potential of 3GPP LTE/SAE mobile broadband technologies through a series of joint tests including radio transmission performance tests, early interoperability tests, field tests and full customer trials. Joint activities will commence in May 2007, and are expected to run for a period of 18-24 months.

The joint test results will be used by the participating members in ongoing technology developments and 3GPP LTE standardisation work, and will also help define and validate operator network launch plans. This initiative will also help validate the emerging LTE ecosystem including devices and applications, with a view to enabling commercial deployments in the 2009/2010 timeframe.

This LTE trial initiative will work closely with NGMN Ltd to take into account the NGMN performance requirements. NGMN is an initiative to develop a coherent vision for the mobile industry's evolution beyond 3G. The primary objective of NGMN is to create a virtuous cycle of investment, innovation, and adoption of mobile broadband services with competitive price-performance ratios.

Alcatel-Lucent
Ericsson
France Telecom
Nokia
Nokia Siemens Networks
Nortel
T-Mobile
Vodafone