Add to del.icio.us     Digg this

Nov. 23, 2009

Alcatel-Lucent says it has successfully completed its first LTE data call on the 800 Mhz European Digital Divide (EDD) spectrum band. The test was done in a live network, using a standard network configuration.

Alcatel said it successfully streamed high-definition video to a prototype mobile device using the same LTE connection.

The data call was completed three weeks ago at Alcatel-Lucent's 4G/LTE lab in Stuttgart, Germany.

The company is attempting to get ahead of the curve as Europe prepares to begin auctioning off the 800 MHz spectrum band, which is particularly well suited to bringing mobile broadband Internet services to rural areas.

A German frequency auction including the 800 MHz spectrum band is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2010.

This first EDD call in a live LTE network marks a milestone for the introduction of LTE in the European market and highlights Alcatel-Lucent's readiness to provide mobile operators with a commercial solution as soon as regulatory decisions on EDD are made.

Overall, deploying LTE technology at 800 MHz has clear benefits for operators that can use fewer sites to cover rural areas, thus reducing the overall environmental impact.

The 800 MHz spectrum LTE deployment could be an ideal complement to a 2.6 GHz spectrum LTE deployment where smaller mobile cells are required in a dense urban environment, for example.

"Our aim is to quickly and effectively support wireless operators in their plans to further enhance the availability of broadband services all over the region. We adapted our LTE solution to the 800 MHz frequency band quite early on and we are now working with customers on field trials," said Ken Wirth, president of Alcatel-Lucent's LTE/4G Solutions.

The European wireless carrier has live 2.6 GHz LTE networks in Stuttgart and Velizy in France and its 2.6 GHz radio modules are CE marked, clearing the way for shipment of 2.6 GHz LTE base stations in the European Economic Area.

Add to del.icio.us     Digg this

Source: Alcatel-Lucent.