AMERICAS LTE DEPLOYMENTS FEATURE
Bay Area Regional Interoperable Com-
munications System (BayRICS) vision was established by the ten Bay Area Counties and 3 core cities, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose in 2006 through the creation of a strategic plan with the goal of providing voice and data interoperability throughout the Bay Area region. BayRICS, is a state of the art communications system-of-systems. Bay Area Wireless Enhanced Broadband (BayWEB) is the broadband component of BayRICS which has acquired 700MHz in which an LTE-based public safety system will be deployed, and is targeted to be operational in early 2011. Cellcom, a regional carrier serving Wiscon- sin and Michigan, is deploying an LTE network. Cellular South has 700MHz spectrum for almost all of Mississippi and Tennessee and most of Alabama. Commercial LTE service is planned in Q4 2011. CenturyTel plans to deploy LTE in 700MHz. Cable operator Cox Communications has con- firmed plans to deploy LTE and has completed initial LTE tests in Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego using AWS and 700 MHz spectrum. Leap Wireless began testing LTE in June 2010 ahead of a planned commercial network deployment initially in selected markets in 2011. At CTIA 2011 Leap Wireless announced it will use LightSquared’s terrestrial LTE network (in satellite spectrum) for cover- age beyond its footprint, and will also use LightSquared’s network within Leap’s own footprint to provide additional capacity if required. Leap Wireless' Cricket subsidiary is expected to launch its first commercial test market live in Arizona by end 2011. Aircell will launch LTE in 2011 to boost the capacity of its in-flight network. CDMA operator Alaska Communications has announced plans to invest US$32m in an LTE network consistent with its current coverage footprint. Clearwire Corp. requested 3GPP to stand-
ardize LTE TDD for operation in the band 2496 – 2690MHz and has released results of trials the company carried out on LTE TDD and FDD systems in Phoenix, Arizona. The company said trials showed true broadband speeds and high-quality, HD-video would be among new services that will be offered. Clearwire is a member of the Global TD-LTE Initiative. In August 2011 Clearwire announced its firm commitment to deploy an LTE over- lay—and will incorporate key features of LTE-Advanced. The LTE TDD mode is expected to be deployed using 20 MHz of spectrum.
Clearwire’s LTE implementation plan is subject to approval of additional funding. As part of a $32.1m stimulus grant, Commnet Wireless, LLC will develop and operate an LTE network in the Navajo Nation. The grant, plus partial matching funds, will provide broadband infrastructure access to the Navajo Nation across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, enabling fixed and mobile service for over 30,000 households (135,000 people) and 1,000 businesses in 15 of the largest communities in the Navajo Nation, including Window Rock, Shiprock, Kayenta, Chinle, and Tuba City. The project will also provide high-capacity connectivity on the combined middle-mile backbone to 49 more tribal communities. Satellite TV provider Dish Network applied
in August 2011 to the FCC for permission to deploy an LTE network in spectrum bought from bankrupt TerreStar. Greenfield operator Lightsquared is de-
ploying the first US wholesale-only LTE network, and has selected its infrastructure supplier for deployment in 1.4 to 1.6GHz spectrum, mostly (46 MHz) in L-Band, tar- geting commercial launch in early 2012. LightSquared has committed to reaching 36 per cent of the US population with LTE by the end of 2012. By 2015 the target is 92 per cent (260 million people). Rural network operator Mosaic Telecom is
deploying a commercial LTE network in exist- ing 700 MHz and AWS spectrum. Deployment commenced in Q1 2011. NetAmerica Alliance LLC will help to bring
LTE mobile broadband services to 700MHz and AWS spectrum holders for people and businesses in smaller markets and rural areas. NetAmerica joins forces with rural independ- ent license holders deploying new converged 4G mobile/fixed networks and provide them with business and network services including combined buying power, nationwide branding, 24x7 network monitoring, core networking ele- ments, apps development and other key services. Network operators Peoples Telephone
Cooperative (Quitman Texas) and Etex Tel- ephone Cooperative (Gilmer Texas) have committed to LTE network deployments and recently joined the Alliance. Public Service Wireless is deploying a commercial 700 MHz LTE network in central and south-west Georgia. Sprint has hinted about the adoption of
LTE. According to reports “there is a high like- lihood that LTE is in our future in one flavour
Mobile Communications International | First for news, best for business
or another," a comment attributed to a senior company spokesman, who added "announce- ments will be made soon". Sprint is using WiMAX technology for its next-generation mobile network. With LTE adoption more prevalent, the ecosystem for WiMAX is likely to be limited by comparison. It is expected that Sprint would use 800MHz spectrum, currently used for iDEN, should the company decide to proceed with LTE deployment. Texas Energy Network (TEN) plans to
deploy a nationwide LTE wireless broadband network, initially targeting the oil and gas industries. On May 6, 2011 US Cellular announced
plans, in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, to deliver LTE services and devices to more than 26 per cent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season. Initial roll- out Is planned for selected cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. On January 25, 2011 the FCC mandated
LTE for first responders (public safety com- munications). The Order and FNPRM requires all 700 MHz public safety mobile broadband networks to use a common air interface, specifically LTE, to support roaming and interoperable communications and seeks comment on additional rules to enable nation- wide interoperability. Mandating of a single technology by the FCC is unprecedented, underlining the progress towards a single global mobile technology with LTE.
CANADA Rogers Wireless announced the launch of Canada’s first commercial LTE service on July 7, 2011 in Ottawa. This fall Rogers will roll out LTE to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and another 21 markets in 2012. Later this year, Rogers promises availability of the first LTE smartphones from HTC and Samsung.
Bell Canada and Telus have launched a joint HSPA+ network. Telus announced in April 2011 plans to build an LTE network beginning 2H 2011. It was not stated whether this would be its own network or a joint build with Bell Canada.
Bell Canada is trialing LTE and has an- nounced a planned commercial service launch for sometime in 2011. MTS Allstream is deploying HSPA+ which
provides the company with an efficient up- grade path to LTE. »
37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44