Should LTE Be Deployed Differently than 2G and 3G?

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the new emerging standard for 4G wireless networks. While purists would argue that LTE is still a 3G wireless technology because it’s part of the IMT-2000 family, there’s little doubt that LTE will represent a quantum leap for the telecom world. To wit: LTE deploys orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and multiple input / multiple output (MIMO) techniques to deliver peak data rates of 100 Mbps+ downlink and 50 Mbps+ uplink—a 7-fold increase from today’s 3G High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) networks delivering 14 Mbps max. That’s a big change, and subscriber usage and behavior patterns will likely morph in unexpected ways as a result.

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4G technology on priority list, says Trai boss

Just a few hours after taking charge as the new chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), J S Sarma talked to Ishita Russell on the road map for the regulator in a complicated telecom world. Excerpts: What is your main agenda as you take over as the Trai chairman?

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Cisco to make WiMAX gear for Clearwire

Cisco on Wednesday said it had struck a deal with 4G Internet provider Clearwire to provide WiMAX devices for Clearwire’s network. The agreement, which also sees Cisco provide some of the routers and other backing equipment for the network itself, will see Cisco give Clearwire WiMAX adapters meant both for individual users as well as home office and smaller businesses. Details of these aren’t public, though the first hardware should be available by late this year.

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LTE and WiMax: Good News All Around

The transition of 4G from a future technology with great potential to a current standard that is in the early stages of a long-term adoption and deployment cycle is upon us. Last week, WiMax got a big shot in the arm when Clearwire announced an alliance with Cisco that, if fully consummated, shows a road to fulfillment of the service provider’s promise to make WiMax a serious national play.

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LTE vs. WiMAX: The 4G Wireless War

Remember when 3G was the future of wireless data? It’s not even universally available in the U.S. yet, and the race is already well underway to replace it. WiMAX, the 4G network technology that counts Sprint and Intel among its boosters, has a head start. But it’s losing ground to Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE’s promise of high-speed, two-way wireless data promises an “all-IP” mode of communications in which voice calls are handled via VoIP. It’s also designed to handle video well, and to permit roaming through multiple systems–from cellular to Wi-Fi and satellite.

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'4G tech a priority area'

Just a few hours after taking charge as the new chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), J S Sarma talked to Ishita Russell on the road map for the regulator in a complicated telecom world.

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4G? It's a myth but don't blame the press

4G is a term often used and more often misused to try and ‘sex-up’ current or almost current wireless technologies like WiMAX or the long term evolution (LTE) of 3G. One market research firm has had enough - but they’re blaming the wrong people for perpetrating the myth of 4G.

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Motorola ends Euro LTE test, says no plans for 4G cuts

Motorola said it had concluded European field tests for Vodafone’s Long-Term Evolution trials, saying it met all of the carrier’s benchmarks, but Vodafone’s move to 4G technology may still be far off. Motorola Senior Vice President Fred Wright also clarified co-CEO Greg Brown’s comments last month on the handset maker’s plans, saying Motorola will not cut its investment in developing WiMAX or LTE technologies.

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New iPhone 4G Concept Is Son of MacBook Air and iPod Touch

This beautiful concept, inspired by the curves and tapering of the Macbook Air coupled with the touch’s back, is even better than the cool Macbook-inspired iPhone 4G we featured at the beginning of the month. The thing that excites me most about these concepts, however, is not the aesthetic aspect of it. It’s the the front camera and the fact that people seem to be excited about getting videoconferencing on the iPhone. Specially about the idea of interacting with desktop videoconferencing software on both the PC and the Mac. This is a must for the videochat feature to be really useful, and personally I think it’s one of the reasons it hasn’t been done by Apple before.

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The future of voice in a 4G world

….Or at least how it should be. In America, two telcos control most of the frequencies set aside for 4G. Since they control the spectrum. We may not get what we should. But what should we get? 4G should enable the untethered use use of any device that speaks IP. Period. In other words, it should be a wireless broadband port, just like your cable or DSL modem. With most of your apps in the cloud, you can move form device to device at will and still have your “stuff”. Devices would come in many form factors ranging from a handset - essentially an un crippled version of today’s smart phone, to a desktop computer, with every imaginable variation.

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