Mobile World Congress 2008
Ericsson Takes a Swipe at WiMAX with TDD-LTE
| Feb 4, 2008 | Wireless Infrastructure | Show Update
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Analyst: Peter Jarich
Current Perspective: Positive
Vendor Importance: Moderate
Market Impact: Low |
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Event Summary
January 30, 2008 – Ericsson announced the demonstration of LTE functionality in both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) modes. Based on the same base station platform, TDD speeds of more than 90 Mbps on the downlink were showcased using 2X2 MIMO. Where FDD operations support operators with access to paired spectrum allocations, TDD supports unpaired spectrum assets
Analytical Summary
• Current Perspective: Positive on Ericsson’s time division duplexing (TDD) mode LTE demonstrations, because while most LTE demonstrations have focused on paired spectrum, many operators around the world have access to unpaired spectrum they’d like to leverage for 4G services. Ericsson’s demonstrations send a clear message: LTE in general (and Ericsson, in particular) is ready to support those operators. Yet, while this message is important for competing with WiMAX (which as been focused on TDD from inception), if the rest of the LTE industry remains focused on paired and frequency division duplexing (FDD) spectrum, it will be hard to get a full ecosystem up and running (including devices) no matter what Ericsson can do with its base stations.
• Vendor Importance: Moderate to Ericsson, because if the vendor is correct in its claim that 90% of all mobile spectrum is paired, then it should be able to support most mobile broadband applications with FDD mode LTE. Regardless, the fact remains that TDD spectrum allocations do exist around the world and – at present – WiMAX is the only widely accepted mobile broadband standard to address them. Since Ericsson has opted to ignore mobile WiMAX as a 4G technology, it needed to find some way to support operators with TDD spectrum, or cede the opportunity to WiMAX vendors.
• Market Impact: Low on the wireless infrastructure market, because its been known for some time that LTE (as a technology) would support TDD as well as FDD operations. Given Ericsson’s absence from the WiMAX space, it’s no surprise that the vendor would support TDD-mode LTE. Of course, as the discussion around LTE heats up (and the market gets closer to commercial solutions), Ericsson’s demonstrations could push operators looking at WiMAX to consider LTE while engaging Ericsson’s competitors about their plans for TDD-based LTE.
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Current Perspective
Competitive Positives and Concerns
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