Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) is touting a new version of LTE that will make 1-Gigabit speeds possible for LTE networks. Called Gigabit-LTE, this version of LTE will allow operators to deliver extremely fast speeds for tasks such as downloading video or for enterprises looking for fast network access for mission-critical applications.
Arun Bansal, head of Ericsson's radio network unit, said during a webcast to announce the product that operators that want to deploy 1-Gigabit LTE will need to have at least 60 MHz of spectrum and a robust system of carrier aggregation. Other features include:
- 4x4 MIMO on 20 MHz of spectrum in mid and high bands
- 2x2 MIMO in low bands
- 256 QUAM
- 1.4 GHz supplemental downlink band
"1-Gig capability gives you enormous value," Bansal said. "It will only take 5 seconds to download a full season of a TV program," he added, noting that the technology also will benefit new services such as 4K high-definition video.
According to the latest Ericsson Mobility Report, 90 percent of the world's population will have mobile broadband coverage by 2021. The report also predicts that traffic on the mobile network will grow 10-fold by that time and that 70 percent of that traffic will be video.
To get Gigabit-LTE operators will not only have to upgrade their LTE networks with Ericsson's software solution, they will also have to deploy smartphones that support 256 QUAM and carrier aggregation.
Ericsson demonstrated its 1-Gigabit LTE capability last November with Telstra. The demonstration included five carrier LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation and the two firms achieved downlink speeds in excess of 950 Mbps using 100 MHz of spectrum. In addition, the two companies also said they hit download speeds of more than 843 Mbps.
The telecom infrastructure company will be demonstrating its Gigabit-LTE and other innovations during the 2016 Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona later this month.
For more:
- see this press release
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