Mobile big guns back LTE as next-gen network

Step towards "fairer" licensing?

NEWS

Several companies yesterday agreed to sign their names to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) framework for the next generation of wireless technology.

The largest handset maker in the world, Nokia, was joined by Alcatel-Lucent, NEC, NextWave Wireless and Sony Ericsson. Part of the agreement on LTE means the companies will agree to licence their patents "on fair and reasonable terms", which means keeping royalties for handset patents below 10 per cent of the handset sale price.

Wireless A to Z

All there is to know about wireless tech…

Nokia's Ilkka Rahnasto said in a statement: "Today's announcement is a step towards establishing more predictable and transparent licensing costs in a manner that enables faster adoption of new technologies."

These five are only the latest to join as the emerging LTE technology gains momentum. In November at the Mobile Asia Congress in Macau, the GSM Association threw its support behind LTE. A few weeks later, Verizon Wireless, the number two wireless operator in the US, said it would use LTE for its 4G wireless network. AT&T, the largest mobile operator in the US, also has indicated it will use LTE.

Comments

There is 1 comment. Join the discussion

  1. 1. anonymous

    Are they just going to skip finishing 3G then, recognising the fact that it just doesn't work very well and sucks.

    Rubbish Coverage
    Rubbish Throughput
    Rubbish on the Train (even without tunnels)
    Not available more then 1 meter from a motorway, or seemingly in Wales or Scotland at all :-)

    3G all the same hype of GPRS, all the same broken promises......

    • 15 April 2008 10:09
    • Add comment

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your silicon.com account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy.

Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Membership FAQ

Get silicon.com's daily newsletter

  • Register on silicon.com

    Enter your email to register

Keep in touch with silicon.com

silicon.com newsletters