MetroPCS bringing LTE to Las Vegas this year, Samsung doing infrastructure and first LTE handset: the SCH-r900
Look out folks, we're about to go LTE, and it's not from where you were expecting: MetroPCS is building out an LTE network in "various metropolitan markets," with Las Vegas due to go online first in the second half of 2010. Samsung will be doing the infrastructure work, and is running the presser here at CTIA, with a pretty impressive display of room-based LTE show of force. Samsung, as previously announced, will also be building the first 4G handset for the network, dubbed the SCH-r900, though they aren't sharing any other details about the device at this point. Samsung ran a quick demo of 4G performance using some laptops and a couple of racks of LTE parts (we'll have video up momentarily), and was also running some sort of LTE prototype (pictured above), though we don't know squat about it. PR is after the break.
Update: There's video after the break! Witness those blazing 4G speeds for yourself, you'll be amazed and astonished. Or at least mildly entertained. %Gallery-88924%
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SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL LTE 4G INFRASTRUCTURE AND HANDSET AT CTIA WIRELESS
LTE Infrastructure and Handset to Launch Commercial Service in the Second Half of 2010 for the MetroPCS Las Vegas Metropolitan Area
Las Vegas – March 24, 2010 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile)1, the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 2, introduced today at International CTIA Wireless 2010 in Las Vegas one of the first commercially available LTE network infrastructures and LTE-enabled, multi-mode, CDMA, 4G handset, the Samsung SCH-r900.
Samsung Mobile's advanced commercial LTE network products will allow wireless operators like MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS), the nation's leading provider of unlimited, flat-rate, no signed contract wireless communications service, to provide advanced services using LTE compatible handsets as well as new and innovative network solutions. LTE makes possible services such as real-time streaming video on demand (VOD), music downloads, enhanced Web browsing capabilities at high download speeds, and utilizing voice communications to increase productivity and access downloadable applications. MetroPCS plans to initially deploy a commercial LTE network in various metropolitan markets, including the Las Vegas metropolitan area where Samsung Mobile LTE network products will be used, in the second half of 2010.
Samsung Mobile's commercial LTE network products leverage years of 4G orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) commercial network experience and have flexible bandwidth support of 1.4 to 20 MHz standards. Samsung Mobile's network infrastructure supports a wide portfolio of enhanced node B (eNB) products, including rack types, remote radio heads, picocells and distributed antenna system (DAS) hosts.
Samsung Mobile's network solutions feature a scalable, single rack, enhanced packet core (EPC) along with IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) products, to support rapid deployment and end-to-end quality control through devices.
Samsung Mobile's infrastructure network products also feature an open architecture which supports multi-vendor inter-operation through initiatives such as the LTE Strategic Test Initiative (LSTI). Samsung Mobile's network infrastructure will incorporate high efficiency multimode amplifiers and energy saving mode.
The Samsung SCH-r900 will be one of the first commercially available LTE-enabled, multi-mode, CDMA, 4G handsets in the United States when MetroPCS launches the handset in the second half of 2010. The introduction of the Samsung SCH-r900 is part of Samsung Mobile's collaboration with MetroPCS to deliver advanced LTE handsets, services and infrastructure.
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