NTT DoCoMo moves ahead with 'Super 3G' leaving questions about LTE

NTT DoCoMo's decision to push ahead with a "Super 3G" network suggests that LTE is on target for market introduction as early as 2010. DoCoMo has named long-time vendor partner Fujitsu to supply Evolved Packet Core (EPC) equipment for the network and previously selected NEC for basestations and terminals.

While potentially confusing terminology and technology, Super 3G, in DoCoMo's parlance, equates to pre-LTE. In an interview with FierceWireless, Peter Jarich, research director for Current Analysis said that DoCoMo has said they were going to do some (LTE) soft launches maybe next year. "DoCoMo wants to move early."

Whether it's called Super 3G or pre-LTE, DoCoMo is moving apace, almost serving as a huge beta testbed for interested providers around the world as the LTE standard evolves. Jarich added that Verizon Wireless will likely have LTE in 2010-2011. But for European operators 2013 may make more sense.

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