- Successful TD-LTE/LTE-FDD Roaming Trials Completed Between China Mobile and Korea Telecom; China Mobile and Clearwire
- GTI Members to Showcase Global Roaming in Booths at Mobile World Congress
- SoftBank, Bharti Airtel and Others Expected to Begin Roaming Trials Soon
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) today provided an update on successful global roaming trials between major wireless operators in the United States, China and South Korea as key developments in the organization’s mission to promote a unified TD/FDD-LTE market.
GTI was formed by leading global operators to create value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem for early adoption of the technology and convergence of TD-LTE and LTE-FDD. GTI includes more than 50 operators around the world, and dozens of leading technology partners. The operators involved in the new TD-LTE/LTE-FDD roaming trials include: China Mobile (mainland China and Hong Kong), Clearwire (U.S.), SoftBank (Japan), KT (Korea), Bharti Airtel (India) as key operator members of the coalition.
China Mobile recently completed global roaming trials with Korea Telecom and China Mobile Hong Kong, and with Clearwire in both Hong Kong and mainland China. The trials represent a major step forward in establishing a global roaming configuration that creates a unified TD-LTE and LTE-FDD marketplace around the world. In 2013, the GTI expects to conduct further roaming trials involving SoftBank, Bhartil Airtel and others as the technical development of TD-LTE/LTE FDD global roaming approaches critical mass.
With the commercialization of a global TD-LTE network, the need for global roaming among TD-LTE networks is the key element of globalization of TD-LTE. The GTI Roaming task force provided great support to perform the TD-LTE roaming testing among GTI members.
Based on the China Mobile International Limited (CMI) IPX trial network, the international roaming test between China Mobile’s TD-LTE network in China and its partners has provided some initial results. The TD-LTE data roaming testing between the China Mobile in Hong Kong (CMHK) and Clearwire in the United States has been completed successfully. In addition, China Mobile is conducting TD-LTE roaming testing with partners such as India’s Bharti, Japan’s SoftBank and South Korea’s KT.
In 2013, China Mobile will continue to conduct roaming tests of TD-LTE with more international partners to accelerate the ecosystem development of the TD-LTE industry.
“Successfully establishing a platform on which to base global LTE roaming has been an important long-term goal for Clearwire and our GTI partners,” said Dr. John Saw, Chief Technology Officer of Clearwire. “Building this framework, with the TD-LTE and Band 41 configuration, will accelerate a development cycle that we believe will provide operators around the world significant benefits as the move toward LTE continues. We’re proud of our leading role in driving the development of a unified global marketplace for LTE.”
“The GTI’s successful completion of roaming trials between TD-LTE and LTE-FDD network technologies is a major step towards providing worldwide interoperable LTE services,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer at the GSMA. “The mobile industry has a responsibility to ensure that 4G enables a seamless experience for users, and the capability to roam on any LTE network is a fundamental part of that responsibility.”
LTE TD/FDD International Summit and Mobile World Congress Showcase
The GTI will hold the 7th LTE TD/FDD International Summit at Mobile World Congress on Tuesday, 26 February from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Hall 8.0 Theater District, Theatre B. Members of the press are encouraged to attend the event.
Chairmen and CEOs from major wireless companies, including China Mobile, Bharti Airtel, Clearwire, Samsung, Qualcomm, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Network will discuss the convergence of LTE TD/FDD and the acceleration of TD-LTE deployments in global markets. They will also discuss the proliferation of commercial TD-LTE networks, the challenges operators face deploying affordable multi-mode and multi-band terminals, and the creation of a unified market by enabling global roaming.
The summit is hosted by the GTI and China Mobile and supported by the GSMA, TDIA and XGP Forum. For more information on the summit please visit: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/gti/.
In addition, three GTI member operators will have booths at Mobile World Congress highlighting global roaming capabilities from their respective booths via popular smart phone devices connecting to LTE using a portable hot spot with an embedded Qualcomm chipset.
China Mobile and Korea Telecom plan to highlight roaming between China Mobile’s Band 40/38 TD-LTE configuration and Korea Telecom’s Band 3 LTE FDD. Bharti Airtel plans to highlight the company’s Band 40 TD-LTE roaming with China Mobile’s Band 40/38 TD-LTE configuration.
China Mobile can be found in Hall 5 Stand 5I120, Korea Telecom in Hall 3 Stand 3B2, and Bharti Airtel in Hall 5 Stand 5G110.
Additional information about GTI can be found at http://www.lte-tdd.org/.
About the GTI
Established in Feb 2011, the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) is a virtual open platform to advocate cooperation among global operators to promote TD-LTE. GTI was formed to create value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem for early adoption of the technology and convergence of TD-LTE and LTE FDD. GTI was founded by leading international mobile network operators in 2011 to meet the demands for growing mobile broadband and explore new opportunities across industry and public segments.
The Global TD-LTE Initiative logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=17304
About China Mobile International:
China Mobile International (CMI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator in terms of network scale, customer base and market value. As an international arm of China Mobile, CMI provides a full range of comprehensive international services, including IDD, roaming, mobile and data services. CMI aims to construct a world-class international network and platform and provide highly reliable products and services. CMI is committed to providing the next generation one-stop international transit solution.
About Clearwire
Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR, news, filings), through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services offering services in areas of the U.S. where more than 130 million people live. The company holds the deepest portfolio of wireless spectrum available for data services in the U.S. Clearwire serves retail customers through its own CLEAR® brand as well as through wholesale relationships with some of the leading companies in the retail, technology and telecommunications industries, including Sprint and NetZero. The company is constructing a next-generation 4G LTE Advanced-ready network to address the capacity needs of the market, and is also working closely with the Global TDD-LTE Initiative to further the TDD-LTE ecosystem. Clearwire is headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. Additional information is available at http://www.clearwire.com.
CONTACT: Media Contacts:
China Mobile International
Yan Cheng
+852.3975.6688
info@c China Mobile International
Clearwire
Susan Johnston
425.505.6178
susan.johnston@clearwire.com
JLM Partners for Clearwire
Mike DiGioia or Jeremy Pemble
206.381.3600
mike@jlmpartners.com or jeremy@jlmpartners.com
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