NTT DoCoMo begins lightning fast LTE-Advanced field tests
LTE may only just be launching in countries like the US and Sweden, but NTT DoCoMo recently announced that it's starting to field test the better, faster, stronger LTE-Advanced. The Japanese carrier is experimenting with the new technology in the cities of Yokosuka and Sagamihara and gathering data to evaluate performance in indoor vs. outdoor environments. LTE-Advanced is backwards-compatible with NTT DoCoMo's existing LTE network, but reaches speeds up to 1Gbps down and 200Mbps up. No word on when the carrier plans to make the new technology available to its customers.
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DOCOMO Begins Field Experiments of 4G LTE-Advanced System
TOKYO, JAPAN, February 7, 2011 --- NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that on January 27 it was pre-licensed by the Kanto Bureau of Telecommunications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications for field experiments of LTE-Advanced, a true fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication technology that provides data rates much faster than currently possible with LTE.
Once the license is issued, DOCOMO will begin field experiments of LTE-Advanced in real radio environments in the cities of Yokosuka and Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
In the field experiments, the performance of key technologies for LTE-Advanced implemented in the experimental equipment (see attachment) will be evaluated in indoor and outdoor environments.
DOCOMO has already confirmed the performance of LTE-Advanced technologies using radio environment simulators in its R&D center, achieving transmission data rates of approximately 1 Gbps in the downlink and 200 Mbps in the uplink.
LTE-Advanced, as the name suggests, is an evolved version of LTE, which DOCOMO currently offers on a commercial basis under the Xi™ ("Crossy") brand in Japan. LTE-Advanced is backward compatible with LTE, which will enable a smooth migration from DOCOMO's existing LTE network.
Standardization of LTE-Advanced is currently being finalized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In October 2010, LTE-Advanced was accepted by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) as a technology compliant with the requirements of IMT-Advanced.
(Attachment) LTE-Advanced Key Technologies Implemented in DOCOMO's Experimental Equipment
About NTT DOCOMO
NTT DOCOMO is the world's leading mobile operator and provider of advanced mobile services. The company serves over 57 million customers in Japan, including 48 million using i-mode™, the world's most popular mobile e-mail/Internet platform, and 55 million using FOMA™, the world's original 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. As a leader in the development of cutting-edge mobile technologies, DOCOMO is continually expanding the role of mobile phones as versatile and highly personalized "lifestyle tools" for everyday life, including with a wide range of innovative services for mobile payments, GPS, mobile TV, multimedia content and much more. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com.
Xi, FOMA and i-mode are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DOCOMO, INC. in Japan and other countries. FOMA service is only available in Japan.
