Yahoo Finance Verizon (VZ) Launches Nationwide LTE-Advanced Networks
The U.S. telecom behemoth Verizon Communications Inc. VZ has recently completed a major upgrade of its 4G LTE networks to LTE-Advanced technology covering 461 cities in the U.S. The LTE-Advanced network will raise the data packet transmission speed by more than 50%. Verizon claimed its two-channel carrier aggregation generates peak download speeds of up to 225 Mbps while three-channel carrier aggregation has clocked speeds of more than 300 Mbps.
Wireless network standards are continuously evolving globally to offer faster speed. After significant growth of the next-generation 4G LTE network, LTE-A (Long-Term Evolution Advanced) wireless network standard is gradually finding solid foothold worldwide. According to an estimate by the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, 28% of LTE network operators worldwide have launched LTE Advanced networks.
LTE-A is the more powerful version of the legacy LTE network offering increased speed and network capacity. Carrier aggregation is the most important part of LTE-A technology as it allows wireless operators to create large spectrum assets by combining different frequency bands.
Notably, LTE-A also incorporates several technological advancements like Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP), Self-Optimizing Networks (SON), small cell enhancements, Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC) and advanced Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) antenna. Verizon has used MIMO technology and is looking deploy its advanced version in future.
In Jun 2013, SK Telecom Co. Ltd. SKM of South Korea became the first wireless operator in the world to commercially launch LTE-A network using carrier aggregation. In Mar 2014, AT&T Inc. T became the first wireless operator in the U.S. to launch LTE-A services in Chicago. Earlier this year, Sprint Corp. S claimed that it achieved speeds of over 300 Mbps using three-channel carrier aggregation using a Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone.
Earlier research on 4G in the Americas had stated that the latest version of LTE-A network, which is popularly known as LTE-Advanced Pro (3GPP Release 13) will be a major step toward the smooth transition from 4G to the upcoming fifth-generation (5G) network standard.
Notably, Verizon is looking at mobile hotspot and fixed wireless for initial deployment of the next-generation 5G wireless networks in the U.S. by late 2017. Importantly, the industry-wide standardization specification by the 3GPP is likely to be ready in Jun 2018. Thus, Verizon seems to be way ahead of its peers in its plans to deploy next-generation 5G wireless network.
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