Telecom LTE trial

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom LTE trial

1 | 2 | 3

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#760284 12-Feb-2013 17:08

It's worth noting that while LTE speeds can be better, speed isn't the major driver of LTE. LTE differs in that it's a pure IP network with no legacy circuit switched capability like there is with current WCDMA technology.

This also means that there is no voice component to LTE, all calls fall back to a WCDMA or GSM network. VoLTE will probably become the voice solution for LTE, but it's still at least a year away from even appearing on live networks.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41065

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#760359 12-Feb-2013 20:32

This was the release:

Telecom New Zealand welcomed a small group of customers in Auckland and Wellington on to its 4G LTE trials this week.

Around 100 individuals – across the consumer, SME and Gen-i segments - will take part in the trial, which aims to gather information on how people will use the 4G LTE network. Telecom plans to have a commercial service initially available later this calendar year and will roll the technology out progressively over time as demand warrants.

Telecom CEO Retail Chris Quin said the customer trials were another big step toward Telecom offering 4G LTE to its customers.

Mr Quin said: “We are already offering a high quality experience and some groundbreaking products and services over our 100% 3G Smartphone Network - and we’ve had very good feedback from our customers on the quality, speed and reliability of the network.

“However, we know that the future is about data, and increasingly it will be about mobile data – we’re seeing an explosion in mobile technology and mobile data use globally and New Zealand is no exception to that. Telecom is focussed on making sure New Zealand stays ahead of the technological wave, and the trialling and rollout of a 4G LTE network is an essential part of that.”

Gen-i Australasia CEO Tim Miles said the trial will provide Gen-i clients with the opportunity to experience 4G LTE and to look at new opportunities for leveraging Telecom’s high speed network for business benefits.

“The move towards a new 4G LTE network presents our clients with the flexibility to consider delivering applications and services across our high speed mobile network. Telecom has once more shown through its investment in optical transport, and today’s announcement, that we are committed to providing the right capabilities to support New Zealand business – anytime, anywhere and via a range of devices.”

Telecom announced late last year that it had installed the 4G LTE technology in four locations (Lower Hutt, the North Shore of Auckland, Waipukurau in the southern Hawke’s Bay and in a small area of Rotorua) and would be testing the equipment over the Christmas and New Year break. Huawei is conducting the trials in Auckland and Rotorua, and Alcatel-Lucent in Wellington and Waipukurau.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3567

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#760507 13-Feb-2013 07:45

I wonder when Vodafone will flip their LTE switch??

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

old3eyes

9158 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1364

Subscriber

#760530 13-Feb-2013 08:27

"Waipukurau "?? Didn't think there was any industry there these days.. Just a few farmers..

Regards,

Old3eyes

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41065

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#761534 13-Feb-2013 08:39

The trial had to be done in some regions where the frequencies were available.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 154

Trusted

#761537 13-Feb-2013 08:42

freitasm: The trial had to be done in some regions where the frequencies were available.

Yes, it is in the Hawkes Bay area that had DSO last year. Allows testing of LTE at 700 MHz, but on the US band plan

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Behodar

11101 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6090

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#761543 13-Feb-2013 09:01

knoydart: Yes, it is in the Hawkes Bay area that had DSO last year. Allows testing of LTE at 700 MHz, but on the US band plan

I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to LTE so this might be a stupid question, but if Telecom has a licence to use the US band plan then why is this a "but"? I'm aware that there's an APAC band plan but I'm not sure what the advantages are. From what I can see, the US plan:

Has devices available now
Simplifies roaming to the US
With a "dual band" 1800 MHz-capable phone, would also roam in those areas in AU

What are the advantages of the APAC band plan?

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#761549 13-Feb-2013 09:11

Behodar: What are the advantages of the APAC band plan?

The fact it's been ratified across the entire Asia Pacific region and South America.

Much like the US using 1900MHz in the GSM world they are very much on their own (and don't even have South America supporting them this time).

The APAC band uses 703 - 748 and 758 - 803 for downlink and uplink. The US band is basically a shambles, and being non contiguous means there are gaps that can't be used which ultimately limits capacity and bandwidth.

If anything I see the US ultimately moving towards alingning themselves more with the APAC 700 bandplan.

knoydart

904 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 154

Trusted

#761550 13-Feb-2013 09:16

Behodar:
knoydart: Yes, it is in the Hawkes Bay area that had DSO last year. Allows testing of LTE at 700 MHz, but on the US band plan

I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to LTE so this might be a stupid question, but if Telecom has a licence to use the US band plan then why is this a "but"? I'm aware that there's an APAC band plan but I'm not sure what the advantages are. From what I can see, the US plan:
Has devices available now
Simplifies roaming to the US
With a "dual band" 1800 MHz-capable phone, would also roam in those areas in AU
What are the advantages of the APAC band plan?

Hmmm where to begin.

APT eco system should have eco system of around 3 billion consumers, should cover regions outside of the APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunity). Mexico and other south American countries have made the choice to expand the area of use.

The US band plan only covers US and Canada.

The allocation of the US plan is very inflexible and inefficient. Inside US plan is a bunch of dedicated PPDR (Police) allocations. The APT plan has 45MHz and 45MHz down and going with the standards group (3GPP), it is allocatable in 5MHz blocks.

The European's and African's are looking at a second digital dividend to overlap with the APT plan offering an even larger base of consumers

To be honest, the 1800 MHz band is looking as a likely world wide roaming band for LTE. Telstra and one of the Hong Kong operators have gone down that road

Opinions are my own and not my employer on this one!

Behodar

11101 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6090

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#761564 13-Feb-2013 09:39

Thanks for that. It seems that we have a bit of short-term pain due to lack of devices but that it'll be a better system once the devices are available. Looks like a good future though :)

Not sure what this has to do with ecology though!

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80657 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41065

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#762478 14-Feb-2013 16:46

Got the Huawei USB modem today, a E3276 LTE USB modem (with micro SD card reader). Installed, but won't test myself until next week when I will work from town.