NEC has teamed with Chinese vendor Wuhan Research Institute of Post and Telecommunications (WRI) to collaborate in the development, manufacturing, sales and field support of 3GPP compliant LTE wireless access systems, including wireless base stations (eNodeB), Operation and Maintenance Sub-systems and Self Organizing Network (SON).

The jointly developed systems support both TD-LTE and FD-LTE standards, and will be commercially available within 2011. WRI has been participating in TD-LTE tests conducted by the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology utilizing prototype system.

The alliance enables both companies to leverage their strengths and to develop competitive LTE systems.

NEC boasts LTE capabilities that include advanced RF technology, base station control and management technology, and optimized radio access area design technology. NEC has provided LTE solution to NTT DOCOMO, who launched commercial LTE services in December 2010.

Wuhan Fiberhome Mobile Communications Inc., the joint venture between NEC and WRI established in 2005, will market jointly developed systems mostly in the Chinese market, while NEC will mainly target additional global markets.