YOU ARE AT:CarriersLTE-A in Finland hits 300 Mbps on live network

LTE-A in Finland hits 300 Mbps on live network

Some mobile subscribers in Finland may soon be enjoying LTE-A speeds twice as fast as anything available on currently deployed LTE networks elsewhere in the world. Nokia Solutions and Networks, Broadcom and Finnish carrier Elisa say they have demonstrated LTE Advanced carrier aggregation Category 6 data rates of 300 Mbps on a live commercial network.

Carrier aggregation refers to the combination of different spectrum bands to increase speed and throughput. Category 6 has the potential to double the data rates of Category 4 LTE-A carrier aggregation solutions.

“Category 6 is the number one priority LTE feature for operators as they look to deploy the next speed enhancement to their networks,” said Robert Rango, executive vice president in Broadcom’s mobile and wireless group. The successful test used with Broadcom’s Category 6 LTE-A user equipment with inter-band carrier aggregation and NSN’s Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station. The test aggregated two 20 MHz channels in the 1800 MHz band (LTE Band 3) and the 2600 MHz band (LTE Band 7) to reach speeds of 300 Mbps.

LTE-A Category 6 carrier aggregation solutions are likely to be an important market for mobile chipmakers. Broadcom faces competition here from HiSilicon, which recently launched a competing chipset supporting 20 MHz + 20 MHz carrier aggregation. Qualcomm is also hard at work on LTE-A carrier aggregation solutions. Many of these solutions are designed for small cells as opposed to handsets.

Test and measurement equipment makers are enabling LTE-A Cat 6 demonstrations with new equipment and procedures. Agilent, Anite and Rohde & Schwarz are all active in this area. Many of the tests involve HetNet components.

Follow me on Twitter.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Martha DeGrasse
Martha DeGrassehttp://www.nbreports.com
Martha DeGrasse is the publisher of Network Builder Reports (nbreports.com). At RCR, Martha authored more than 20 in-depth feature reports and more than 2,400 news articles. She also created the Mobile Minute and the 5 Things to Know Today series. Prior to joining RCR Wireless News, Martha produced business and technology news for CNN and Dow Jones in New York and managed the online editorial group at Hoover’s Online before taking a number of years off to be at home when her children were young. Martha is the board president of Austin's Trinity Center and is a member of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum.