China Mobile is pressing ahead with development of TD-LTE handset specifications, agreeing its second standardization partnership for the devices in a fortnight.
The operator’s research and development division has agreed to collaborate with UK-based handset test firm Anite to develop protocol conformance and interoperability test specifications and systems. Anite claims the collaboration will cut time to market for handsets compatible with the TDD variant of LTE, which is China’s home-grown version of the 4G technology.
Anite managing director Mike Bonin says the joint development work will boost TD-LTE’s appeal in China and global markets. He claims Anite “leads the market in terms of test case availability,” having begun working with TD-LTE in 2009.
The agreement follows a similar collaboration between China Mobile and US operator Clearwire, announced mid-January. That collaboration also involves the Global TD-LTE Initiative and covers construction of device testing facilities in the US and China, and development of common test specifications.