Nokia claims first LTE modem

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 08 September 2009 07:01

IT Industry - Strategy

Nokia has released what it claims is the first modem designed for use with the next iteration of 3G wireless broadband technology - the Long Term Evolution, slated to deliver downstream bandwidths of up to 160Mbps.

According to a post on a Nokia blog site, the new device is designed to be used in industry trials by network vendors, equipment manufacturers and operators to help the development of LTE technology. It is expected that the first LTE-capable networks will launch before the end of 2010.

The posting quoted Jani Mäenpää, project manager for LTW/SAE interoperability and trials at Nokia, saying: "Nokia is committed to supporting industry activities aimed at maturing LTE technology to enable the first commercial networks to launch in 2010.

"Nokia is also a founding member in the LTE/SAE Trial Initiative (LSTI) and carries out interoperability testing with a number of network vendors, collaborates with measurement equipment manufacturers and is ready to support operators with their LTE deployment activities. The Nokia Internet Modem RD-3 is used in all these activities."

There have been a number of trials of LTE technology and contracts for commercial networks have been awarded, including in Australia by Ericson However in that trial modem functionality was provided in a cabinet-sized piece of equipment.

When LTE launches it is expected that the modems will be no larger than the USB 'dongles' used with current 3G broadband services. In other significant step towards commercial availability of LTE CPE, LG announced last December what it claimed to be the first chipset for an LTE terminal.