Verizon used four-channel carrier aggregation, including unlicensed spectrum, to approach theoretical limit of gigabit LTE
Gigabit LTE is a hot topic, but, in live network deployments, peak speeds often top out in the 100 Mbps-range. But, based on the results of a “commercial network deployment” conducted in Boca Raton, Fla., by Verizon Wireless, gigabit LTE is coming closer to living up to its name.
Verizon worked with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies in a joint project that yielded downlink throughput of 953 Mbps reaching the theoretical limit of gigabit LTE, which is underpinned by 4×4 MIMO, 256 QAM and carrier aggregation. Check out this article for a more in-depth look at gigabit LTE.
For this project, Verizon used Ericsson’s Radio 2205, which supports Licensed Assisted Access wherein an anchor tenant in licensed spectrum bands is bonded with unlicensed frequencies to create a unified, wider channel. Qualcomm Technologies provided a “test device” based on its Snapdragon 835 platform and integrated X16 modem.
Last week Verizon announced preorder availability of the Moto Z2 Force Edition, a high-end smartphone, manufactured by Motorola, that boasts a range of cool technology including a “shatterproof” display, 12 megapixel dual rear cameras, advanced charging capabilities and, most importantly, the Qualcomm tech to support gigabit LTE connectivity.
In the announcement, Verizon said it will launch network support for gigabit-class LTE service “later this year,” to enable the “transfer [of]movies, photos and large files in no time with some of the fastest possible data speeds.”
In a statement, Verizon Chief Wireless Network Officer Nicola Palmer said: “Today’s milestone is a great example of our approach to new technology – we deploy the latest capabilities reliably and in real-world environments, not just in a lab. By continuing to deploy the latest technologies on our 4G LTE Advanced network, we pave the way for better and faster performance for the things our customers do now, and provide the groundwork for our future advancements.”
