Samsung LTE Modem tested on Ericsson infrastructure

MUNICH, Germany — Samsung and Ericsson have jointly tested Samung's first commercially available LTE modem for compatibility with Ericsson's LTE mobile network installed in Stockholm (Sweden). The conclusion of the test is regarded as an important step towards the commercial LTE roll-out.

According to Ericsson, the LTE modem which is implemented as a USB stick, complies with the 3GPP Release 8 March baseline specs, as does Ericsson's network infrastructure. During the tests, LTE's FDD operational mode had been used. Ericsson said the equipment is able to support data rates up to 150 Mbit/s. However, the company declined to state the data rates actually achieved during the test. "The actual data rate depends on various environmental factors," a spokesperson said.

First commercial orders for the LTE modem have already been places by Scandinavian network operator TeliaSonera. The company plans to launch commercial LTE services beginning in mid-2010 in Oslo (Norway) and Stockholm. Large-scale roll-outs however are not expected before 2011, an Ericsson spokesperson said.

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