Ericsson and Qualcomm have completed an interoperability test of LTE Category 9 carrier aggregation in which they claim to have achieved download speeds of 450Mbps.
Testing was conducted on Ericsson’s LTE-Advanced network, which supports bandwidth and frequency combinations for up to 3x60MHz carrier aggregation, using Qualcomm’s LTE-A modem.
According to the two companies, Category 9 speeds allow mobile users to enjoy faster downloads and utilise more connectivity-based applications in greater coverage areas.
Ericsson said the kit used in the test was based on its own commercially available software for multi-standard macro and small cell networks, which supports operator networks using multi-frequency deployments of LTE-A.
Thomas Norén, Head of Radio Product Management at Ericsson, commented: “Inter-company vendor interoperability testing between network and device is key to enabling large-scale commercial deployments.”
European operators are awaiting the mass deployment of Cat 6 devices currently – they are slated for next year – as LTE-A networks begin to be rolled out.
Swisscom, Polkomtel and Vodafone have showcased carrier aggregation trials in the last few weeks.
In September, Ericsson conducted an over-the-air field trial with Slovak Telecom to demonstrate intra-band contiguous LTE-A carrier aggregation.
Yesterday, the vendor’s latest Mobility Report forecast that mobile data traffic will rise at a CAGR of 40 percent between now and 2020, with monthly smartphone traffic in Western Europe growing eight-fold.
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