These include High Definition (HD) videoconferencing, HD streaming, ultra-fast downloading and uploading of large video and audio files, and viewing an HD film with a handheld device. During the launch, the pilot LTE network reached a downlink data speed of 170Mbits/s.
The very high-speed mobile telecommunications service meets current and future requirements of both professionals (mobile offices, HD videoconferencing, teleworking) and consumers (online video games, very high-speed downloads, personal mobile TV). LTE is an asset to help narrow the digital divide in France and develop remote regions by providing a significant range of services such as telemedicine, paperless official documents, education and distance learning.
Guy Roussel, President of Ericsson France, says: “We were proud to have Eric Besson at the launch of our LTE network in France. Ericsson has always been an active contributor to change in the telecommunications world and a key partner for tomorrow’s standards. With LTE, we meet the needs of operators and the public – professionals or private individuals – while taking social issues into account, such as how to narrow the digital gap and contribute to sustainable development. LTE is completely in line with the objectives of the 2012 Digital France plan.”
Operators view this technological standard as a flexible evolution of their networks. In fact, Ericsson presented the RBS 6000 line on the same day. This line combines hosting of 2G and UMTS technology with LTE technology in the same devices, with an energy saving of up to 20 percent.
LTE marks a new era in telecommunications. The technological limits have been pushed so far that some analysts see this as the last step before 4G. While HSPA Evolution already offers up to 21Mbits/s of peak bandwidth (soon 42Mbits/s), the LTE standard delivers between 100Mbits/s and 300Mbits/s.
Ericsson was quick to invest in LTE-related research and development. As a result, it was first to achieve a bandwidth of 144Mbits/s in LTE, in February 2007. At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2008, Ericsson gave the world’s first demonstration of an end-to-end call using a prototype LTE terminal. In May 2008, it joined forces with component manufacturers and operators (Orange, Vodafone, T-Mobile) to set up Alliance LTE with the objective of developing LTE 3G networks.
The first commercial LTE systems are expected at the end of 2009.
Notes to editors:
Long Term Evolution (LTE): an introduction – White Paper – October 2007
HSPA, LTE and beyond – delivering rich communication, connectivity and entertainment over true mobile broadband
PR “True multi-standard RBS unveiled”
