Hughes shows off satellite-powered wireless 4G/LTE at JIFX 13-2

The Joint Interagency Field Exploration field event at the Naval Postgraduate School in California recently hosted a demonstration of satellite-powered high-speed wireless 4G/LTE courtesy of Hughes Network Systems.

Hughes showed its government and military customers how wireless 4G/LTE transmissions can enable real-time video on-the-move, push-to-talk (PTT) communications, and situational awareness through high-speed satellite connectivity.

JIFX 13-2 investigated new data capabilities that can fulfill the requirements of combatant commanders and federal agencies. These data capabilities allow warfighters and emergency responders to complete their missions. However, they have been hard-pressed to find small, interoperable devices that can deliver real-time video communications while on the move.

Government R&D organizations, academia, and private industries hoped to find these devices and other crucial technologies at the JIFX event. Such technologies would boost their military capability, help cut down on costs, and allow them to team up with partner nations and organizations.

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LTE industry set for huge growth in 2017, says Juniper report

Juniper Research presented a new study predicting that 4G LTE operators can achieve revenues exceeding $340 billion in 2017.

According to 4G LTE: Subscribers, Devices, Infrastructure & Service Revenue 2013-2017, the entire LTE industry (2G, 3G, and 4G) achieved $75 billion of revenues during 2012. The industry had also gained more than enough momentum during the past year to trigger an extended growth spurt.

Additionally, the enterprise segment initially commands the highest number of subscribers and profits in the LTE industry. But Juniper says the increasing volume of consumer subscribers will exceed the number of enterprise subscribers come 2015.

Juniper also believes that the consumer segment will merely account for less than half of total revenues. The vast majority of revenues will go to North American and Far Eastern markets, specifically China.

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AT&T upgrades 4G LTE cell sites in Anchorage

AT&T upgraded several cell sites located near Fort Richardson, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Eagle River, and Fairview in Anchorage, Alaska. The improved coverage of Anchorage's 4G LTE network is part of AT&T's ongoing 4G LTE rollout.

The AT&T 4G LTE network made its debut in Anchorage back in September 2012. With this recent series of upgrades, the US communications holding company continues to invest in expanding its network and rolling out its new services.

According to reports, AT&T has spent over $115 billion on both operations and the acquisition of spectrum and other assets to improve the Company's wireless and wired networks during the last five years. Its 4G network currently covers 288 million people and will continue to improve. 

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FCC approves AT&T, Sirius sharing underused satellite radio spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a joint proposal for spectrum sharing by AT&T and Sirius XM. Starting October 12, 2012, the two companies can now share under-utilized spectrum in the Wireless Communication Services (WCS) satellite radio band. This will help speed up AT&T's ongoing rollout of out its 4G long-term evolution (LTE) network.

The FCC has given permission for AT&T to use 30 megahertz of barely-utilized spectrum in the 2.3 GHz band for its wireless broadband services. However, AT&T will only be able to use 20 MHz from this windfall of capacity.

10 MHz on either side of the approved frequency will be used for fixed broadband services. These interference buffers will prevent interference with satellite radio in adjacent bands. Sirius XM currently uses this particular satellite spectrum.

Back in June, Sirius and AT&T made a joint proposal to the FCC. The companies asked for permission to co-exist in their use of the same spectrum. The FCC has finally approved that plan this Monday.

Joan Marsh, vice president of federal regulatory issues for AT&T, issued a statement saying that the FCC's adoption of the new service rules is beneficial on two counts. First, it will allow LTE technologies to be deployed in in the WCS band. At the same time, it will protect satellite radio services from interference.

According to VP Marsh, AT&T took on significant risks when it chose to develop the under-utilized band has paid off. The Company continues to be commited in unlocking the band's full potential and using the additional spectrum capacity to enhance wireless broadband services and support increasing use of mobile Internet. AT&T predicts it can start deploying LTE infrastructure in the band in three years.

Back in August, AT&T spent $600 million to acquire NextWave Wireless and the latter company's spectrum licenses in the WCS and Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) bands. The acquisition boosted AT&T's own spectrum holdings and its developing 4G LTE network.


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NetComm Wireless, Westbase Technology sign 4G distribution agreement for UK markets

NetComm Wireless announced on October 9 that it had entered its first supply agreement with Westbase Technology. A wireless technology distributer based in the United Kingdom, Westbase will distribute NetComm's 3G and 4G wireless broadband devices and machine-to-machine (M2M) products to telecommunications carriers in the U.K. and in Europe.

Earlier, U.K. communications industry regular Ofcom gave its approval to Everything Everywhere. The corporation was now free to use its existing 1800 MHz spectrum for 4G services.

With that in mind, NetComm plans to ensure that its Wireless 4G WiFi Router (4G100W) is one of the first 4G devices to hit the UK market. The tirst to come, after all, is the first to be served.

Westbase will offer NetComm's M2M products to UK vertical markets. NetComm products optimize wireless communications by using distant monitoring, control, and maintenance. They can deliver applications to energy, transport, banking, retail, and other areas.

According to a statement by Brett Stevens, the Chief Technology Officer of NetComm, the Company's partnership with Westbase Technology will allow NetComm to explore new business opportunities in the U.K. as the county gains access to 4G LTE broadband. The agreement also provides cutting-edge M2M technology to industrial and commercial customers across the U.K. and the European continent.

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InterDigital, ASOCS solutions speed up wireless product development, introduction

A strategic alliance between InterDigital and ASOCS Ltd. will develop a fully-integrated 2G and 3G modem solution for wireless products and chipsets development.

The two partners will integrate InterDigital’s SlimChip WCDMA modem IP core into ASOCS’ ModemX platform and R4 GSM/GPRS/EDGE solution. The resulting service can be embedded into wireless product platforms to expedite the release and rollouts of wireless communications products. It will also open up an upgrade path to HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, LTE, and other 4G technologies.

In addition, InterDigital and ASOCS will design another joint solution that will decrease development risk and speed up deliveries of the finished product to the market. This joint solution will support HSPA Category 10 (14.4 Mbps DL) and Category 6 (5.76 Mbps UL,) as well as GPRS/EGPRS multi-slot class 12.

The two partner companies will also offer a complete 3GPP Release 6 compliant 3G physical layer (with direct upgrade path to Release 7), Release 4 compliant 2G physical layer, and dual mode protocol stack implementation.

The InterDigital-ASOCS services target companies who want to open up new market opportunities while spending less time and money on developing new technologies, and customers who are integrating GSM/WCDMA into multi-mode design with LTE or TD-SCDMA networks.

According to Bill Miller, executive vice president of IP Sales and Services at Interdigital, companies always run risks when introducing new wireless products. Any slowdown or accident may ruin a company’s chances to penetrate new markets.

To minimize such risks, ASOCS and InterDigital based their joint solutions on proven technologies that are already in the market. Their services will improve the speed and efficiency of product rollout while also giving customers the opportunity to upgrade to 4G technologies in the future.

According to Gilad Garon, chief executive officer of ASOCS, the strategic alliance with InterDigital will help spread the Company’s ModemX technology throughout the mobile market. ASOCS’s technology has been displacing the DSP approach, especially since current low power designs are able to take full advantage of ModemX’s flexible software-programmable architecture.


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Raisecom, Symmetricom synchronize mobile backhaul networks

A partnership between mobile backhaul solutions company Raisecom Technology and precise timekeeping equipment manufacturer Symmetricom successfully tested the interoperability of LTE wireless backhaul networks through the use of synchronization.

As part of their SyncWorld Ecosystem Program, Raisecom and Symmetricom executed a comprehensive interoperability test. Their aim was to use ITU.T G.8261 and the IEEE 1588-2008 synchronization protocol to validate LTE mobile backhaul deployment scenarios over packet networks.

For the test, Raisecom provided its iTN201 Carrier Ethernet Edge device, which was powered by a Symmetricom TimeProvider 5000 IEEE 1588-2008 Grandmaster clock.

The Symmetricom clock is a carrier-grade timing source that boasts of high client capacity, hardware-based packet processing, and redundant hardware. It matches up the synchronization needs of next-generation networks like as Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE), IEEE 1588 (PTP), and Network Time Protocol (NTP) timing protocols that operate using the iTN201 Carrier Ethernet Edge.

The successful test with Symmetricom means that Raisecom has achieved the status of a SyncWorld network equipment partner. Network equipment partners are technology vendors that have performed extensive and successful interoperability testing with Symmetricom timekeeping products. Raisecom and its fellow partners will work together in various ways to ensure effective operation of the joint solution in specific scenarios.

By testing its systems' interoperability with mobile backhaul networks, Raisecom will help wireless network carriers and service providers to find cost-effective and future-proof ways to establish new networks or upgrade existing wireless networks.

ARINC, Lemko achieve seamless 4G LTE transmission via satellite link

ARINC Incorporated and Lemko Corporation successfully demonstrated the use of 4G LTE technology to provide seamless data transmission and streaming video through a satellite connection.

The two companies teamed up to combine ARINC's RapydConnex(SM) mobile edge satellite broadband communications platform and Lemko's distributed mobile wireless network (DiMoWiNe) for their test. Lemko's DiMoWiNe links up 2G/3G GSM, CDMA, EVDO commercial and tactical networks, and universal mobile telecommunications systems via satellite links provided by ARINC. For its part, ARINC worked on optimizing and sustaining satellite connection speeds.

The companies' test proved a success. The ARINC-Lemko 4G LTE rig was able to sustain speeds of 2 megabits per second for both uploads and downloads. Streaming video tested on the system ran seamlessly.

ARINC and Lemko's breakthrough test established them as some of the very first companies to demonstrate 4G LTE connectivity over a satellite connection.

The military and public safety markets will be able to benefit from this enhanced ability to deploy satellite-supported 4G LTE systems. Users will be able to establish independent 4G LTE cellular networks, which can then be customized to suit their unique needs.

The military's tactical communications network employs important mobile broadband applications that can be served by these networks. Troops will be able to rapidly deploy some of the most advanced mobile communications available even in battlefield situations.

Using LTEs will allow first responders to deplyo and retain advanced satellite-based communications in the critical minutes after a catastrophe. The LTE's independent nature renders it resistant to the typical disruption wrought by a disaster on traditional methods of communication. And public safety personnel will be able to access emergency services and provide life-saving information with running into the risk that their critical call will be disrupted or hijacked.