Motorola To Trial LTE In Japan

Motorola Inc. reported Thursday that it will deploy its LTE network on KDDI's network in Japan, and that trials are scheduled to begin in mid-2010.

A longtime supplier of equipment for KDDI's existing CDMA EV-DO network, Motorola said the LTE deployment will be in both 1.5GHz and 800 MHz bands. Commercial launch of the network is scheduled to take place by December of 2012.

Motorola's Home & Networks Mobility business will provide the equipment for the KDDI network and Bruce Brda, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola Wireless Networks, said the LTE network services will include video and social networking features.

Competition to provide infrastructure for the emerging ultra high-speed LTE is heating up in the wake of last week's announcement by the network pacesetter, Verizon Wireless. Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Starent, and Nokia Siemens Networks were listed as key suppliers for that network, which is scheduled to have its commercial launch next year. Motorola was listed as a future supplier of user devices for the network.

For the KDDI network, Motorola said it will supply RAN/base stations.

Motorola has made a substantial commitment to LTE. Its solution utilizes the firm's OFDM broadband platform as well various radio options including MIMO and smart antennas. Planning for multiple scenarios across a wide variety of spectrum bands, Motorola said its portfolio includes frame based-mounted radios, remote radio heads and tower top radios. Motorola noted that it recently established an LTE lab in the UK.

KDDI is Japan's second largest cell phone carrier and has a market share of about 20%, according to a census taken two years ago. The largest cell phone provider in Japan is NTT DOCOMO, which is also preparing to launch an LTE-capable network. According to an analysis from Light Reading's Unstrung service, DOCOMO plans to launch its LTE service in 2010.

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