O2 to test 4G in six countries
updated 04:45 pm EDT, Fri October 2, 2009
O2 set to test LTE technology in six countries
Telefonica, which owns the UK-based wireless provider O2, announced that it will begin trial testing of its Long Term Evolution mobile broadband technology in six European countries. The 4G technology will allow for faster wireless data speeds, and the trials will involve hardware from six manufacturers including Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Siemens Network, and ZTE.
Earlier this year, Telefonica demonstrated LTE together with Ericsson in Madrid. This involved placing a video call over VoIP as well as downloading data and images at over 140Mbps. Once finalized, the service should offer a peak speed of 340Mbps. The fastest wireless connection available from another UK wireless provider, Vodafone, is capable of supporting 14.4Mbps speeds in some areas.
LTE is deemed as a 3G technology as it doesn’t meet the ITU requirements to offer peak data rates of 1Gbps. Work is already being done on its replacement, LTE Advanced, which will support such speeds. [via ThinkBroadband]
