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Can you hear my LTE call now? Verizon begins 4G rollout
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Verizon Wireless said it completed its first successful LTE data call in Boston using the 3GPP Release 8 standard for the technology, following a similar successful test in Seattle. While Verizon previously disclosed its intentions to test the 4G standard in the two cities, the carrier had not provided details on the trials until today.
Interestingly, Verizon Wireless CTO Tony Melone told the Associated Press that the results of the trial indicate LTE will supply average download speeds of 7 to 12 Mbps.
Verizon Wireless said the tests involved streaming video, file uploads and downloads, and Web browsing. Interestingly, Verizon also said it placed voice calls using VoIP technology, though the carrier has said in the past that it plans to keep most voice traffic on its existing CDMA 1x network.
The tests ran on equipment from Verizon's previously announced suppliers: Alcatel-Lucent (in Boston) and Ericsson (in Seattle). LG and Samsung--both longtime handset vendors for the carrier--provided the devices for the trials, but Verizon noted that LTE gadgets from ST Ericsson, Motorola and Qualcomm would be used in future trials.
Boston and Seattle now each have 10 LTE cell sites in operation, the carrier said, running on the 700 MHz spectrum Verizon paid $9.6 billion to secure during last year's FCC spectrum auction. Though Verizon will be the first to market with LTE in the United States, other operators including MetroPCS and AT&T have made it clear they are going to follow. MetroPCS has said it will look to launch LTE in the second half of 2010. AT&T will begin testing LTE in 2010, with deployment beginning in 2011.
Verizon said it expects to have 30 commercial LTE markets up and running in 2010, and plans to have a nationwide buildout completed in late 2013 or early 2014.
For more:
- see this AP article
- see this release
Related Articles:
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Verizon may complete LTE buildout by 2014
Verizon's Dick Lynch reveals LTE equipment vendors
Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson win Verizon LTE deal
Comments
Posted by Cameron Wall | August 17, 2009 - 6:34pm
Sorry guys 7-12Mb down, is far from what 4G represents, Possibly Verizon is testing 3G?
Posted by wwb | August 17, 2009 - 10:04pm
Uh, 7-12 Mbps for first trial is not bad. LTE max of 100 MBps is just a peak rate at 20 MHz BW with best signal conditions and low coding rate; if they are getting 7-12 Mbps averaged over all drive conditions, that is OK at first. No way 3G can claim that now; if you disagree, provide a real-world citation. Obviously they are not testing 3G if they are claiming it is LTE. But we need to know what BW they are using, the press releases don't say.
Posted by Anonymous | September 17, 2009 - 9:54am
LTE IS NOT 4G. Holy hell, how many times do we have to say it? LTE Advanced may be 4G, but LTE is far below the 4G threshhold.
Still, 7-12 Mbps isn't bad.
Posted by okay... | November 16, 2009 - 7:22pm
7-12Mbps is the predicted rate that users will get on a crowded server. When they tested, they were getting around 50-60Mbs download.
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