Nvidia has updated its latest mobile chipset with support for Category 4 LTE connectivity. Tegra 4i, similar to Tegra 4 but includes an integrated Nvidia i500 LTE modem, managed to upgrade from Category 3 and its 100Mbps connection to LTE-Advanced and a possible 150Mps speed, without performing any changes to the hardware.
AT&T may start rolling out its LTE-Advanced network in the second half of 2013 if a rumor is to be believed. If correct, it would see AT&T effectively catching up to Verizon's LTE lead with the next generation of 4G access, with potential average download speeds of 100Mbps being quoted for the technology.
Dish Network has warned the Federal Communications Commission that it may not be able to meet initial deployment goals for its LTE-Advanced network until 2016 or later. In a filing with the FCC (PDF), the satellite company is asking regulators to modify their official guidelines to accomodate a lengthier buildout schedule.
Dish is facing opposition from AT&T on its plans to develop a 4G LTE-Advanced mobile broadband network to complement its existing satellite TV and other services. It has petitioned the FCC on the matter, arguing that AT&T is pushing for an ‘overly aggressive and unrealistic schedule’ for its suggested build-out time frames. Dish argues that such conditions would ‘set Dish up for failure or force Dish into unfavorable business arrangements.’
Sprint is planning on rolling out LTE-Advanced technology on its 800MHz network during the first half of 2013. Sprint's vice president of network development and engineering, Iyad Tarazi, promised the quick upgrade to the nearer-term LTE network at the 4G World conference in Chicago. Using the technology, Sprint believes it can achieve download speeds of between 12Mbps and 15Mbps in real-world conditions, which compares to what Verizon gets with its regular LTE.
Japan’s DOCOMO mobile network has announced that it has begun field testing a development of LTE technology LTE-Advanced. LTE-Advanced is a 4G mobile network technology that is up to six-times faster than standard LTE networks. A recent field test by the South Korean government’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) showed the new standard achieving astonishing downlink speeds in real-world tests peaking at 600Mbps.
The South Korean government's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has demoed one of the first public instances of LTE-Advanced. A test mobile media broadcast system peaked at 600Mbps, or six times faster than regular LTE, and was capable of speeds that could easily outperform most landlines. The agency downloaded a CD-sized 700MB movie in 9.3 seconds and could stream 3D TV even while roaming in a test vehicle.
