While summer is normally a time when people take vacations and major industry announcements are in a lull, we continue to have our plates full researching the rapid pace of technology, product, merger and acquisition activity, and major deployments that proceed at a rapid pace. If there is a second dip recession, it provides little opportunity for the industry to take a breather.

 Momentum has accelerated and expectations firmed on a few notable fronts:

Both 3GPP and IEEE have moved rapidly to develop and submit standards according to the requirements of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for IMT-Advanced, with strong reliance on advanced wireless architecture methods using increasingly higher order MIMO to achieve needed levels of bandwidth performance while reducing costs of deployment.

The dramatic growth in use and traffic stimulated by Apple iPhone and Android WebPhones, including Sprint/Clearwire’s HTC EVO 4G, and a growing number of WRAN to WiFi mobile HotSpot router devices, has prepared the stage for entry of the first LTE mobile devices.

Major market deployments of LTE are said to be on schedule:

• Verizon sticks to their guns for taking the wraps off 30-35 major metropolitan markets by the end of the year, with indication that a launch may take place as early as November 15th, 2010. While Verizon has remained mum on specifics of devices beyond USB dongles, we continue to be optimistic that it will launch a few WebPhones by December.

• MetroPCS has been more forthcoming about their plans: Braxton Carter, MetroPCS Executive VP CFO, said they expect to beat Verizon with a launch ‘within weeks’ that will feature an LTE/EVDO WebPhone from Samsung branded the ‘Craft’, followed by additional phones, pads and laptop devices throughout 2011. On further discussion, Carter explained that MetroPCS is reluctant to offer WiFi HotSpot, USB dongles or laptop devices, as these would compromise its focus on SmartPhones that has been successful in gaining market share.  MetroPCS said they are actively pursuing opportunities to gain access to more spectrum, including partnership arrangements.
• In the case (pun intended) of the Samsung Craft, not a lot can be judged from the cover. Much of the success, of course, will depend on the software and pricing of the inclusive voice and data plans.  MetroPCS said they are also working aggressively to provide video services with their sole supplier, Ericsson, eager to show its industry-leading capabilities. We have unearthed that the major reason for early availability of the Craft is that the SoCs and device are both sourced from Samsung, which also leverages experience gained in 3.5G and WiMAX devices. 
• While Verizon has held back details of phone device availability coincident with the roll out, we have to believe that MetroPCS will not be alone at the party dancing with the Samsung Craft.
• Clearwire and Sprint have reiterated their stance as being open to deployment of LTE, saying that they will do evaluations of vendors for both FDD and TDD versions. Clearwire issued a notice that they will hold a webcast with industry and financial analysts on August 30th to “Unveil Plans to Serve New Customer Segment.” This announcement could be a number of things that are known to be brewing: 

- A partnership with T-Mobile, MetroPCS or other operator to make use of spectrum for deployment of LTE broadband capacity.

- Announcement of WiMAX/LTE multiple-mode devices, something we expect to occur before winter. This has looked likely for over a year and was furthered by Beceem’s introduction of the BCS500 WiMAX/LTE chip earlier in the year and our subsequent talks with the company. Lars Johnnson, VP of Marketing, has indicated that unnamed operators have made commitments for large volumes of the new parts. While we cannot provide more details here than has been publicly disclosed, the markets the BCS500 can be sold in volume is a narrow number of operators, Clearwire and Yota being chief among them. 

A major trend in wireless technology and deployments has developed: the SDWN, Smart Distributed WBB Network, which includes microcell architecture devices with SONs capabilities, has come from the computer design screens to being actively deployed in HSPA and LTE networks. We will have more on this in an upcoming article. 

For more information, take a look at Maravedis’ new 4G Gear Infrastructure Report

MARAVEDIS is a leading analyst firm focusing on disruptive technologies including smart networks using WiMAX, IEEE, and 3GPP/LTE. Maravedis works with system and service providers, vendors, regulators, and institutional investors. Learn more at www.maravedis-bwa.com.

 Author: Robert Syputa, Senior Analyst and Advisor, Maravedis