Verizon Preps for Long Term Evolution Leap
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Verizon Wireless has picked Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) and Ericsson (Nasdaq: ERICY) as its main contractors in its planned deployment of its forthcoming 4G network, aka “Long Term Evolution.”
LTE, reputed to be so fast that users can download a song in just seconds, is considered the next industry benchmark for carriers to meet. Verizon’s project — which it outlined at the industry trade show GSMA Mobile World Congress, currently ongoing in Barcelona, Spain — is the largest LTE commitment to date.
Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson will build the underlying infrastructure for delivery in 2010 — making Verizon Wireless the first wireless company to offer commercial LTE-based service in the United States, assuming it meets the deadline.
Also participating is Nokia Siemens Networks, which, along with Alcatel-Lucent, will be a supplier for the IP Multi-Media Subsystem (IMS) network. This technology enables multimedia applications regardless of access. It will play a key role in Verizon’s services infrastructure when it offers converged applications and services on its wireless and landline broadband networks.
During the past year, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) have been using existing spectrum to field-test LTE networks in Minneapolis; Columbus, Ohio; Northern New Jersey; Budapest, Hungary; Dusseldorf, Germany; and Madrid. The field trials yieled download rates of 50 Mbps to 60 Mbps peak speeds, though Verizon noted that actual average download results will not be determined until the commercial launch of the new Verizon Wireless LTE network.
Besides faster internet access, LTE should deliver better-quality video services and easier-to-use mobile applications. For instance, a wide-area wireless LTE network should be able to connect consumer electronics devices and machines to each other.
Verizon is planning to deploy the LTE network beyond its current coverage areas, so service in some rural areas not currently served by wireless broadband is also possible.
via: technewsworld
