Chip-maker Qualcomm, network vendor Huawei, and UK mobile operator EE today announced the successful completion of interoperability testing for LTE Category 9, which supports peak download speeds of up to 410 Mbps. The trial used Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 810 processor with an integrated LTE-A modem together with Huawei’s commercial infrastructure, and was run over EE’s ‘4G+’ network.
LTE Category 9 introduces 3-carrier downlink aggregation, allowing the testers to combine 20 MHz of 1800 MHz spectrum with 20 MHz of 2.6 GHz and an additional 15 MHz carrier at 2.6 GHz. Tom Bennett, director of network services and devices at EE, said this next-generation connectivity enables better use of spectrum holdings and helps deliver higher capacity and faster speeds across the network.
“Using our remaining 15 MHz of 2.6 GHz spectrum unlocks both our fastest speeds and an increase in network capacity. This successful testing phase is a big step forward,” Bennett added.
Yang Chaobin, Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei’s Wireless Network Business Unit, emphasized Huawei’s commitment to improving network performance across the UK by delivering faster and more reliable mobile connections. He described the trial as an important milestone on the path toward 5G, noting that this LTE Category 9 interoperability test is among the first publicly announced trials of its kind in Europe and highlighting the collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and EE to advance future networks.
EE and Huawei have previously partnered on LTE innovation; in 2012 the companies collaborated to launch the UK’s first commercial 4G network. While the recent tests demonstrate the technical viability of Cat9 aggregation, commercial rollout depends on device availability. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 and subsequent chipsets will need to reach handsets before operators and vendors can enable Cat9 features in the market, which is expected when device launches include the new modems, anticipated in early 2015.
Enrico Salvatori, Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm Europe, said Qualcomm is excited to work with EE and Huawei to bring the next stage of wireless connectivity to consumers. He noted that moving from Category 6 to Category 9 LTE-Advanced brings roughly 1.5x higher peak download speeds, faster application responsiveness, more reliable connections, and access to the fastest available networks.
In summary, the interoperability tests show that LTE Category 9’s three-carrier aggregation is technically feasible using current operator spectrum allocations and vendor equipment. When device manufacturers integrate compatible Qualcomm chipsets into smartphones and other mobile devices, operators like EE and vendors such as Huawei will be able to deploy Cat9-capable services to deliver higher peak speeds and improved network capacity to users.
Do you think Cat9 represents a meaningful advancement for LTE? Let us know in the comments.