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Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a new technology that offers enhancements to existing mobile technologies or may replace them in time. LTE, part of the GSM technology enhancement for mobile broadband, is a radio platform technology that allows operators the capacity and the speed to handle a rapid increase in data traffic.
Work on LTE, which has evolved as the global standard for the fourth generation of mobile networks (4G), began in 2004. 3rd Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) - the industry group that aims to provides LTE standards - first introduced LTE to provide data transfer and mobile equipment manufacturers and mobile network providers joined this group in 2009 to build new shape of voice over LTE. Initial deployments of LTE began in late 2009 and the first commercial LTE networks were launched by TeliaSonera in Norway and Sweden in December 2009. Verizon’s LTE network is the world’s largest commercial installation to date. As of November 2012, there were 117 commercial LTE networks in various stages of commercial service. Currently 175 LTE operators have launched commercial services. 424 operators have publicly committed to the technology across 126 different countries.
LTE offers faster data rate transfer as compared to existing 3G network equipments by using radio waves over the same bandwidth. 4G LTE can be used at home or office for wireless internet access, accessing rich content and multimedia applications such as movies, HD videos, e-learning, multiple downloads of heavy files and high definition multimedia content at the same time and higher uplink and downlink speeds. It also provides seamless online streaming, high definition online gaming, business applications that require higher speeds and last mile connectivity and seamless video chats.
Most leading operators, device and infrastructure manufacturers, as well as content providers support LTE as the mobile technology of the future.
LTE in India
4G or LTE is going to bring faster wireless broadband Internet access in India with theoretical speeds as high as 100 mbps. However, for the spread of LTE in India, operators will have to deploy VoLTE (voice over LTE) services. For telcos to offer VoLTE, they will have to pay additional licensing fees. The Telecom Commission has announced that holders of 4G LTE spectrum would be allowed to offer voice services if they pay an additional Rs 1,660 crore fee to the government for a universal services license.
So far Bharti Airtel is the only Indian operator to have launched 4G services in the country. Airtel 4G LTE was launched in Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune and Chandigarh. Bharti Airtel is testing voice call services on 4G network in four service areas.
Other telcos like Reliance Jio, Tikona and Aircel are likely to launch 4G services next year.
The Mukesh Ambani promoted Reliance Jio Infocomm, which is the only private player with Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum in all the 22 telecom circles of India, is yet to launch its 4G service. The company, which has finalised key agreements with technology partners and device manufacturers, plans to utilise up to 45,000 sites from the Anil Ambani controlled Reliance Communications' existing nationwide network for accelerated roll-out of its 4G services. Reliance Jio has been testing for trial voice over 4G LTE network across Mumbai, Delhi and Jamnagar.
Aircel, which has 20 MHz spectrum on 2300 MHz in eight circles including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (including Chennai), West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, North East and Jammu & Kashmir, is gearing up to start pilot run for 4G LTE services in Chennai by the end of 2013 or early 2014.
Tikona Digital Networks, the Prakash Bajpai-founded telco, which boasts of Goldman Sachs, Oak Investment Partners and Everstone Capital Advisors as investors, had won Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) spectrum in the five circles of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (East and West) and Rajasthan.
It had floated a Request for Proposal, inviting bids for 4G equipment worth over $ 200 million.
Russian telecom operator MTS, which has 3.75 MHz of spectrum in each of its nine circles, has announced that the company would "adopt and migrate" to deliver broadband LTE technology.
Outlook
Even though 3G will continue to deliver broadband to millions of mobile users for many years to come, LTE will be required to meet customer rising expectations and demand for speed and capacity enabling more data demanding and latency sensitive applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services.
To a large extent how long LTE in India takes to develop will depend on the 3G experience of both the customers and the operators.
