The E-Plus Group has announced that it plans to launch a TD-LTE field trial in Germany in Q1 2011, based on 2.6 GHz spectrum that it acquired in the German spectrum auction. The company also announced that China Mobile will provide technical support for the trial, while ZTE will provide base stations developed on the advanced SDR platform and co-siting solution of LTE FDD/TD-LTE, which is said to be a breakthrough in the industry.
The E-Plus Group says it is now opening the mobile data market for the masses with low-priced data tariff schemes and the roll-out of a HSPA+ network with, it says, speeds up to 21.6 Mbps. On top of the high speed mobile data network roll out, E-Plus will now test TD-LTE in the field. E-Plus Group is one of the founding members of the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance.
The E-Plus Group and ZTE agreed and scheduled a field trial program for 2011 consisting of several streams to investigate the capabilities of ZTE’s commercial SDR equipment and best utilisation of the spectrum holdings of E-Plus in 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz, both TD-LTE and LTE FDD.
China Mobile claims the largest number of mobile subscribers in the world. From TD-SCDMA to TD-LTE, China Mobile is said to be flat out promoting the TDD industry, with, it says, much experience in TDD network deployment. Also, China Mobile is said to be pro-active in TDD technology globalisation and the convergence of TD-LTE and LTE FDD industry by seeking cooperation with overseas operators in Europe, Asia, America and Australia.
With the joint effort of the E-Plus Group, China Mobile and ZTE, it’s said the trial will not only demonstrate the latest progress of TD-LTE/LTE FDD convergence in standards and industry development, but will also lay ‘excellent ground’ for the full commercialisation of TD-LTE.