Verizon Wireless completed its first successful Long Term Evolution (LTE) data call in Boston, last week, based on the 3GPP Release 8 standard. The company also it had earlier completed an LTE 4G data call in Seattle. The successful data calls involved streaming video, file uploads and downloads, and Web browsing. Significantly, Verizon Wireless has successfully made data calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to enable voice transmissions over the LTE 4G network.
Verizon used commercial 3GPP Release 8 infrastructure and its 700 MHz spectrum in Boston and Seattle. Verizon’s Network VP Tom Sawanobori told Paid Content that it is technically LTE and that the hardware is commercial today, but the software is not. “The software is pre-commercial. We plan to introduce commercial service on slightly newer version of Release 8, which meets our requirements.”
“We fully expect customers to use VOIP on our LTE network,” said Verizon Wireless chief technical officer Tony Melone.
Technology partners included Alcatel-Lucent (Boston) and Ericsson (Seattle) for base station/radio access network, LG and Samsung for trial devices, and Starent Networks and Nokia Siemens Networks for network equipment. Devices from LG and Samsung will soon be supplemented by devices from ST-Ericsson, Motorola and Qualcomm, said Verizon.
According to Verizon Wireless, Boston and Seattle each now have 10 LTE 4G cell sites up and running on the 700 MHz spectrum. These LTE 4G markets were selected by network planners due to their geographic configuration of suburban and urban areas as well as the areas’ high-technology population. The trials will help Verizon Wireless and its LTE 4G network partners understand issues that include how to best prepare cell sites and how to add the new technology to the network.
The Seattle deployment will pit Verizon’s LTE against Clearwire’s mobile WiMax network, which is due to be launched there before the end of 2009.
Verizon Wireless says it expects to commercially launch its LTE 4G network in up to 30 markets in 2010, covering 100 million people with full nationwide coverage in 2013.
Clear expects to offer 4G service in markets covering 30 million people at the end of 2009 and cover 120 million people across 80 U.S. markets by the end of 2010. Clear’s WiMax service starts at $20 per month for in-home wireless, with mobile broadband plans starting at $30 per month. Customers can also get a day pass for $10.
