While TD-LTE seems to have taken lead over WiMAX, still industry perception is that WiMAX is a much more mature technology than TD-LTE.
While TD-LTE seems to have taken lead over WiMAX, still industry perception is that WiMAX is a much more mature technology than TD-LTE. Most of Indian BWA winners are still comparing both WiMAX & TD-LTE options for roll out choice and haven’t declared the final selection. Big winner RIL Infotel has TD-LTE preference but it may opt for WiMAX as initial choice if it did not see TD-LTE mature enough for deployment now.
To check TD-LTE readiness, I decided to look at TD-LTE vendors with end to end portfolio, It seems that most of them already have declared commercial availability of TD-LTE eNodeBs and have already demonstrated TD-LTE data calls.
Almost all vendors have attributed their readiness to TD-LTE demonstration in Shanghai World Expo. See the vendor TD-LTE details below, these are picked from public announcements or vendor websites.
Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent has demonstrated high-definition video call over a TD-LTE network at the Shanghai World Expo. Alcatel-Lucent also achieved peak rates of more than 80Mbps downstream, using a single 20MHz spectrum band on World Expo China 2010 TD-LTE network.
Alcatel-Lucent’s end-to-end TD-LTE solution includes eNodeBs (base stations) and evolved packet core (EPC). In its portfolio, Alcatel-Lucent also have a radio module, based on software defined radio (SDR) technology, that gives mobile service providers the flexibility to support any mix of 2G GSM, 3G W-CDMA/HSPA+ and long term evolution (LTE) services simultaneously.
Ericsson
At a China Mobile event in Shanghai, China recently, Ericsson showcased its complete end-to-end TD-LTE solution for the first time. Together with ST-Ericsson devices, the system successfully showcased super-fast mobile broadband applications such as video on demand (VOD) and video streaming.
Ericsson has introduced a new base station RBS 6000 as part of its TD-LTE offering. Ericsson claims that it’s TD-LTE solution has achieved a single user peak rate of 110Mbps in the downlink.
Huawei
Huawei has deployed TD-LTE demo network in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo along with other vendors. Huawei is exclusively responsible for the entire outdoor network coverage of the Expo Park. In May 2009, Huawei claims to have demonstrated TD-LTE-based inter-site and inter-cell switching for the first time in the world.
Huawei’s solutions include TD-LTE eNodeBs based on Huawei’s fourth-generation BTS, platform Evolved Packet Core (EPC).
Motorola
Motorola showcased TD-LTE Network during Shanghai World Expo Opening Ceremony, during which it demonstrated a high-quality video wall including 24 simultaneous video streams. The Motorola end-to-end 2.3GHz TD-LTE network encompasses the eNodeB, backhaul, evolved packet core (EPC), billing, home subscriber server (HSS) and LTE manager.
Motorola also has WiMAX Evolution solution for operators to upgrade existing WiMAX 802.16e / 802.16e Enhanced networks to 802.16m or TD-LTE or to add LTE to their existing WiMAX networks. Motorola claims that its WiMAX access points are easily upgradable to 802.16m (WiMAX 2), TD-LTE, FDD LTE or LTE-Advanced.
Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Siemens Networks facilitated a high resolution live video call between TD-LTE devices connected to separate TD-LTE networks in May. The call occurred between China Mobile’s pre-commercial TD-LTE network for the Shanghai World Expo and National Chiao Tung University’s (NCTU) TD-LTE trial network in Taipei, set up by Nokia Siemens Networks.
Nokia Siemens Networks claims to have fully integrated TD-LTE with its existing mobile platforms including base stations and core networks. Nokia Siemens Networks’ Single RAN solution that supports LTE in the paired and unpaired spectrum on the same Flexi Multiradio Base Station, the TD-LTE variant is fully compliant with 3GPP Release 8 LTE specifications.
ZTE
ZTE and Innofidei demonstrated multiple TD-LTE USB dongles in a single mobile network cell Shanghai during the opening days of Shanghai World Expo. In June, ZTE announced its Commercial B8300 TD-LTE base station which is based on ZTE’s SDR unified platform and can be upgraded from TD-SCDMA mode to TD-LTE or TD/TD-LTE dual mode.
ZTE’s End to End TD-LTE solution includes EPC, eUTRAN, Terminals, and Chipsets. ZTE is the first company to complete the China Mobile (CMCC) TD-LTE field tests. ZTE’s Uni-RAN solution, which is based on the SDR technology, supports 2G (CDMA/GSM) + TD-LTE and 3G (TD-SCDMA/UMTS) + TD-LTE, that simplifies the network evolution and convergence.