Ericsson trials HSPA-LTE interoperability, we count 7 Gs in total
By Chris Ziegler 
posted December 15th 2009 3:05PM
posted December 15th 2009 3:05PM
Since it'll be eons until we enjoy the kind of 4G coverage that we've grown used to on 2G (and to a lesser extent, 3G), manufacturers and carriers are hard at work making sure that we've got a reliable way to interoperate for the foreseeable future -- TeliaSonera, for instance, wants to swap out its customers' modems for LTE / HSPA dual-mode versions once they're available next year. To that end, Ericsson and ST-Ericsson are trumpeting that they've become the first to establish "LTE and HSPA mobility" in accordance with 3GPP's Release 8 specification, which dictates this sort of stuff in a way everyone can agree on (that's a good thing). Verizon's naturally more interested in the CDMA handoffs that have already gone down, but for AT&T and most of the rest of the world, this is exciting news indeed.
excellent. now give us some handsets that can handle that lte goodness. cant wait for this to be available here at the west coast (bästkusten) of sweden. eric ftw!
And what happens when both the 4G and 3G networks aren't available? Are these new phones still going to have 2G capabilities for those last-resort needs, or only 4G/3G?
@nelagster I'm pretty sure that if they can cram LTE/ 3G into a single chip or chipset, adding the old GSM/GPRS into the mix will be a walk in the park. And I won't swear on this, but I'm pretty sure current 3G chips have built-in 2G.
@nelagster
The radios in new base stations that are being built handles GSM,3G & LTE. So most likely the chipsets for LTE will have builtin support for GSM and 3G since this is the case of GSM and 3G today.
The second they get EV-DO/LTE interoperability going, I'm gonna start counting the days until I can buy my LTE capable Moto Driod 2.
*Starts holding breath*
@kenny goo
Its too easy, but oh what the hell...
*points at Droid*
"You killed Kenny! You bastards!"
@kenny goo
I think Verizon has already successfully tested CDMA to 4G handoffs as they are trying to get their LTE network ready for launch (and soooooooooooooooooooooooon!). I'm with you on that, very exciting!
@Valicore
Well I know that was their plan, and I know some other handset companies had been working on it, but I didn't know they got any EV-DO/LTE back and forth going. If so, that's great news, especially since they plan to have some LTE coverage up next year.
MOTO DRIOD 2 BABY! 4G AND WHAT!? Lol. Seriously though. I've said it before, I'd like better 3G coverage before we start moving to LTE, Wimax and HSPA+, but I understand the need for companies to push technology forward to gain market share, mind share, and straight up cash.
The funny part is, Verizon will only need the CDMA handoffs for a year or two, since we'll blink and they will have LTE over their entire EVDO footprint (which, I think, is bigger than AT&T's entire network). AT&T, meanwhile, will be starting to build out LTE in the suburbs, and Sprint will still be pushing WiMax.
@(Unverified) - Um, no? This time (unlike an EVDO rev update to "get 3G speeds") Verizon will have to actually build out an LTE network with physical hardware... So, slooow your roll sun ;^/...
@Frankenstein Black Sorry... 3-4 years...
By the time AT&T rolls out 4G over 95% of its 3G service area, Verizon will have LTE over its entire service area.
@(Unverified)
As of now, Verizon doesn't plan on using LTE for it's voice network at launch. You'll only see it for data devices where the speed will be useful.
@Jeff Kibuule In that case, they won't need any hand-offs at all. However, I think we will see a rapid and complete build-out over their footprint, even though it requires new hardware. Verizon is the only carrier that will pour as much money as is needed to have the best network out there, and they will do it much more quickly and efficiently than any other carrier.
BTW, I'm not a VZW fanboy, I like my GSM and the freedom of SIM cards. That being said, Red's network is superior to Blue's.
I want my LTE.
I want my...I want my LTEEEEEEE
"Trials"? WTF?
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