NEC supports DoCoMo’s LTE network (Japan)
NEC Corp has revealed details which enclose its support for NTT DoCoMo’s new LTE mobile network, branded ‘Xi’ that was launched commercially on 24 December 2010.
Working as a total systems provider, NEC stated that it has contributed communications infrastructure and mobile terminals for the new network, which is capable of delivering data communications services with a maximum speed of 75Mbps.
NEC has been a development and manufacturing vendor for NTT DoCoMo LTE wireless base stations, core network equipment and mobile terminals since 2006.
Common mobile phones charger expected to hit in early 2011
A new standard for a universal phone charger has been approved by two of Europe’s standardization bodies – CEN-CENELEC and ETSI – which follows an agreement by the main handset manufacturers in June 2009 to work towards a single charger that will work on all future mobile phones.
According to European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, he is very happy that the European Standardization Bodies have met their request to develop within a short space of time – the technical standards necessary for a common mobile phone charger based on the work done by industry. Now it is time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger. The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste and benefit businesses. It is a true win-win situation.
Incompatibility of chargers for mobile phones is not only a major inconvenience for users, but also a considerable environmental problem. Users who want to change their mobile phones must usually buy a new charger and dispose of the old one, even if it is in good condition. In response to citizens’ demand for a common charger, the European Commission invited manufacturers to agree on a technical solution making compatible the chargers of different brands.
As a result, mobile phone producers committed themselves to ensure compatibility of data-enabled mobile phones, expected to be predominant in the market within two years, on the basis of the Micro-USB connector. The agreement was established in June 2009 and signed by Apple, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (Alcatel), Texas Instruments and Atmel.
The Commission then issued a mandate to the European Standardization Organizations CEN-CENELEC and ETSI in December 2009, requesting the development of European standards for the common charger. The two organizations have now delivered. The standards allow for interoperability, i.e. the common charger is compatible with data-enabled mobile telephones of different brands. They also take account of safety risks and electro-magnetic emissions and ensure that common chargers have sufficient immunity to external interference.
The European Commission expects the first common chargers and mobile phones compatible with the new standards to reach the European market in the first months of 2011.
Taiwan WiMAX Network looks to share network purchase
Taiwan’s five WiMAX network operators are reportedly planning joint procurement of WiMAX infrastructure to try to drive down cost though bulk purchase discounts.
According to reports, citing Chairman of Vee Telecom Multimedia, the five networks would aim to jointly spend US$83 million during 2011.
The other four networks are Tatung InfoCom, First International Telecom, Global Mobile and Vmax Telecom.
However, in light of the reality that these carriers’ working towers are from different equipment suppliers, including Motorola, Samsung, NEC and Alcatel-Lucent, Lai suggested that each of these carriers internally integrate its backend equipment with software before they integrate the systems for joint procurements. Vmax is planning to buy 700-800 of the towers in the joint procurement in 2011. Since the five carriers are members of the Consortium of Mobile Broadband (CMB), in which Lai is the chairman, the organization will become the platform of their joint-purchase operation.
Globe Telecom to continue testing LTE in 2011
Filipino operator Globe Telecom has stated that field trials for Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile technology will continue into 2011 before it makes a decision on how best to approach a strategy for its adoption in the country.
According to Globe’s head of network technologies strategy, Emmanuel Estrada, phase 2 of the field trials will commence soon following the successful completion of the first stage of tests.
The cellco’s Phase 1 trial achieved up to 60Mbps downlink data throughput rate at 10MHz bandwidth.
According to Estrada, the Phase 1 test was very successful. The company and supplier NEC have agreed to take on the next level. The objective of the tests is all about collective learning of the LTE technology.
NEC undertakes LTE Field Trial with Telefonica Moviles Argentina
Japan’s NEC has announced its participation in an LTE field trial with Telefonica Moviles Argentina, the largest mobile carrier in Argentina, and a subsidiary of Spain’s Telefonica. The trial is scheduled to be held between November and mid December in Buenos Aires, Argentina with the cooperation of Telefonica Moviles.
NEC will offer a total LTE system, including terminals, base stations and core networks. NEC will also run mobility testing such as throughput measurement from a fixed point, handover between networks and latency test. The trial is the first in the AWS band in Central and South America.
According to Kazuya Hashimoto, General Manager of NEC’s Mobile Access Network Division, NEC is honored to participate in these LTE field trials with Telefonica, which are a continuation of laboratory testing. They have successfully achieved approximately 100 testing items in the previous tests and they are confident that they can contribute to the success of this trial.
Telefonica & NEC completes LTE trials in Argentina
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: LTE laboratory trials have been successfully completed by Telefonica along with NEC. Telefonica de Argentina was provided with a total LTE network system by NEC. The system consisted of core network systems and wireless base stations.
Telefonica requested for almost around 100 test items and all were achieved while under a 20 MHz bandwidth, including a maximum throughput of 145 Mbps while connecting with a simulator device.
A maximum throughput of 95 Mbps has been achieved by the trials using an actual LTE terminal while NEC also plans to participate in future Telefonica field trials.
Hutchison 3G Austria modernizes its network for HSPA+ and LTE
Hutchison 3G Austria is modernizing its radio access network to be ready for HSPA+ and the next generation of mobile broadband, or LTE. At the same time this step will allow the operator to halve the energy consumption of its base stations. Nokia Siemens Networks will undertake this upgrade starting in autumn 2009.
The demand for increased mobile broadband capacity and throughput in Austria is reflected in the increasing usage of data cards and mobile services like Mobile TV, video download or video sharing,†said Berthold Thoma, CEO of Hutchison 3G Austria. Mobile broadband is also one of the most pragmatic solutions to bridging the digital gap between cities and rural areas. For rural areas, mobile broadband coverage is simply less expensive and faster to deploy than fiber to the home†solutions. We hope that with our nationwide coverage we will contribute significantly to this end.†(more…)
Telefonica reveals plans to test LTE in UK, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Brazil and Argentina.
O2 has revealed plans to test long-term evolution (LTE) of 3G technology in the UK within the next few months.
Telef³nica announced this week that it will do trials of the Long Term Evolution of 3G networks (LTE) within the next few months across UK, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Brazil and Argentina.
Telefonica’s O2 in the UK will be the first operator in the UK to carry out LTE trials. T-Mobile, Vodafone and Orange are all expected to follow O2′s lead in the future.
Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Siemens Networks and ZTE are supporting Telefonica’s initial technology trials, though it is still open to working with other suppliers.
LTE will allow Telef³nica to offer its customers peak mobile broadband speeds of up to 340Mbps ‘in ideal conditions’ and will also deliver more flexible use of its spectrum as well as boost network capacity.
