LTE : Flagship Tech?

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In the next generation mobile broadband technologies, LTE or Long Term Evolution is contending wireless technologies for 4G. The others being UMB and 802.16m WiMax. LTE is expected to enable service providers to offer wireless broadband services with enhanced performance and capacity at affordable costs. While Ericsson has touted LTE, Qualcomm prefers UMB, and Intel IEEE 802.16m WiMax.

In a bid to give an evolutionary nature to 3G capabilities, the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) developed LTE. Under this it was visualized that data transfer rates will be enhanced significantly, latency reduced for an enhanced end-user experience, and coverage and spectral efficiency with optimized network architecture improved as the key features.

According to China Daily, China Mobile, the world's largest mobile phone operator, is lending its support to LTE. Vodafone and Verizon Wireless are also set to promote LTE. The two are coordinating LTE trials with companies, including Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia Siemens, and Nortel who are also partnering these trials. The world's largest handset maker, Nokia, also predicts LTE to be the main technology to form 4G.

Tech Aspect
Under the 3GPP, initiatives were taken to improve the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) standard to deliver next generation wireless broadband services like high performance computing and multimedia services. Though LTE specification has not been standardized, 3GPP LTE is targeting certain key features:

High Speed Data Transfer Rate: Downstream rates of 100 Mbps and upstream rates of 50 Mbps for every 20 MHz spectrum
Spectrum Efficiency

Downlink: In a loaded network, target for spectrum efficiency 3-4 times Release 6 HSDPA

Uplink: In a loaded network, target for spectrum efficiency 2-3 times Release 6 Enhanced Uplink

Spectrum Flexibility: Spectrum ranges from 1.25-20 MHz
Reduced Latency: Sub-5ms latency for IP packets
Control-plane Capacity: At least 200 users per cell should be supported in the active state for spectrum allocations up to 5 MHz
User-plane Latency: Less than 5ms in unload condition for small IP packet
User Throughput: In downlink, average user throughput per MHz, 3-4 times Release 6 HSDPA; in uplink, average user throughput per MHz, 2-3 times Release 6 Enhanced Uplink

Since LTE targets to achieve these key features, it is known as Super 3G, 3G+, 3.9G-and now 4G. Once the LTE standard is approved by the ITU, it will be commercially available in the 2010-12 timeframe. With its high speed broadband, spectral efficiency and flexibility, it will offer enhanced user experience with unprecedented services like mobile TV, digital video broadcasting, video chat, high definition TV, among others, redefining the roles mobile phones play in our lives. But we have to wait and watch whether these high-end services will be available in India immediately.

Kannan K
kannan@cybermedia.co.in