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December 07, 2009

Verizon Promises 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps LTE Speeds

Verizon Wireless says its fourth-generation “long term evolution” network, to be launched in 25 to 30 markets in 2010, covering approximately 100 million people, will feature “average” data rates per user of 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps in the downstream, with 2 Mbps to 5 Mbps in the upstream path. Verizon also touts the use of 700-MHz spectrum for its LTE network, a key consideration for easy use of LTE devices and networks inside buildings and homes.
 
The analogy is in-building use of over-the-air radio and TV. Most people who use wireless phones, and have used over-the-air radio and TV, know that indoor coverage is an issue. Basically, the issue is that lower-frequency signals have better ability to penetrate solid objects and travel long distances. Verizon argues that 700 MHz spectrum therefore will have better in-building propagation than signals using the 2.5 Ghz band available in the United States for other 4G technologies such as WiMAX.
  
Verizon Wireless’ deployment of LTE in the beachfront 700 MHz spectrum provides coverage and in-building penetration advantages over existing 3G technologies – and other 4G competitive implementations – deployed at higher frequency bands. This enhanced in-building coverage/penetration will make indoor applications even more powerful.
 
The user latency achieved in LTE is approximately a fourth of what is available when using existing 3G technologies.
 
It might be of interest that WiMAX service provider Clearwire says its network provides “average mobile download speeds of 3 Mbps to 6 Mbps with bursts over 10 Mbps. To be sure, Clearwire owns more raw spectrum than any LTE provider. That’s always helpful. But it might turn out that any single user, at any given place and time, might experience higher bandwidth than Clearwire’s WiMAX provides.
 
Of course, Clearwire is live now, so its stated bandwidth likely is a fact, Verizon’s claims yet a promise. Contention issues also might be a bigger problem than anybody now can foresee. Still, Verizon’s claims are significant. In some cases, for some users and applications, LTE might prove a workable substitute for fixed broadband.

Gary Kim is a contributing editor for MobilityTechzone. To read more of Gary’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Erin Harrison


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