4G Global Update - May 19, 2011

 

Italy Identifies Rules for Mobile Broadband Auction

Wireless Federation

AgCom, Italy's telecom regulator, has approved a new rule that starts the procedures for allocating the frequencies for mobile broadband services. The Communications Authority has set a revenue goal of $3 billion for Italy's largest frequency auction. The measure put down the guidelines for alloting frequencies in the 800, 1800, 2000 and 2600 MHz bands and to proceed to re-farming in the 1800 MHz band, presently used by GSM, to more modern broadband technologies such as LTE and WiMAX. MORE

 

 

China Mobile, Apple Agree on 4G TD-LTE Technology

Apple Insider

China Mobile revealed Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Apple to eventually support the carrier's 4G TD-LTE data network, though it was unable to provide details on when exactly a 4G iPhone will arrive. China Mobile said it had "reached consensus" with Apple on using its 4G technology on iPhones to be offered by the carrier, but no timeframe was given for the rollout. MORE

 

 

LightSquared Plans LTE Launch Next Year in US

Light Reading

WCAI member LightSquared now plans to launch commercial LTE services early next year and will start large-scale field trials in the third quarter this year, according to Martin Harriman, executive vice president of LightSquared. Harriman told Light Reading Mobile that the company was rolling out the network now and that the first base stations were being installed in Las Vegas "as we speak." The startup wholesale U.S. LTE operator plans to conduct field trials in the third and fourth quarter this year in Baltimore, Las Vegas and Phoenix, according to Harriman. But a "full-blown commercial" launch is scheduled for early next year, he said. The company had previously said that it would launch initial commercial markets by the end of this year. MORE

 

 

Nokia Siemens Networks Gets LG U+ LTE Roll-Out Deal in Korea

The Wall Street Journal

Network equipment vendor Nokia Siemens Networks said it has been selected by LG U+ to roll out its LTE network in Korea. Nokia Siemens is deploying its single radio access network to provide consolidated configuration, monitoring and network optimization. MORE

 

 

US House Subcommittee Sets Hearing for Public-Safety Network

Urgent Communications

Members of the House subcommittee on communications and technology will conduct a hearing entitled "Creating an Interoperable Public Safety Network" on May 25, according to the House Commerce Committee website. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and four other Democratic senators called for Congress to approve legislation that would reallocate the 700 MHz D Block — set for commercial auction under current law — to public safety, which would use the spectrum to support proposed 700 MHz LTE broadband networks nationwide. MORE