Clearwire (CLWR) reported an agreement with China Mobile (CHL) and the Global TD-LTE initiative for common test specifications and joint interoperability testing for the technology across global band configurations, including the 2.3 GHz to 2.7 GHz bands. Clearwire is set to use its 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings to begin rolling out TD-LTE services.
Clearwire and China Mobile late last year announced plans to collaborate on TD-LTE devices.
The new agreement calls for the parties to establish a mobile broadband lab designed for testing TD-LTE devices operating in the 2.3 GHz to 2.7 GHz space, as well other bands including the 1.9 GHz space. The lab will also work on interactions between FDD and TD-LTE standards.
The TD-LTE standard is similar to the traditional FDD LTE technology being deployed by many mobile operators. The main difference is that the TD version can take advantage of large, single swaths of spectrum using time division duplex technology instead of needing different spectrum bands for uplink and downlink as required for FDD LTE.
Clearwire said it plans to conduct its TD-LTE testing in Phoenix and Herndon, Va., with China Mobile’s testing to be carried out in Beijing and other TD-LTE trial markets. Clearwire has been testing TD-LTE technology in the Phoenix market since late 2010, reporting download speeds of up to 90 megabits per second.
China Mobile last year announced plans to trial TD-LTE with Ericsson in Shenzhen, which followed initial testing with ZTE, Huawei and Nokia Siemens.
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