TD-LTE: An Urban Dream Realized

A look back in its history of 80-plus years, from the first car radio to the world first ever GSM system, shows that Motorola, using innovation as a constant driving force, is dedicated to bringing about closer and easier connection between people through advanced communication technologies.

As a highlight of technological breakthroughs at the current Shanghai Expo, TD-LTE is attracting close attention from both domestic and foreign media, operators and communication equipment makers. In the near future, TD-LTE subscribers will be able to enjoy their personalized mobile media experience at a speed about 20 times faster than the current 3G network, even when moving at speeds of about 350km per hour, at a much lower cost with much richer applications.

During the May Day Holiday, Motorola and China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC) as well as chipset partners jointly demonstrated end-to-end real TD-LTE experiences at the Shanghai Expo. Through TD-LTE USB dongles, people at the demonstration are experiencing numerous applications, including 24 simultaneous video streams, mobility and high-speed web browsing. Motorola accomplished the industry first multi-vendor terminals interoperability demonstration via the TD-LTE USB dongles, which signifies that the TD-LTE industry chains are advancing to its maturity. In the next few months, Motorola will continue to work closely with China Mobile Communications Corporation to demonstrate real TD-LTE experiences to clients from different parts of the world.

As a major equipment provider, Motorola deployed 23 base stations as well as complete series of core network equipment at the current Expo, providing indoor TD-LTE network coverage for such pavilions as the China Pavilion, Expo Center and US Pavilion to bring real mobile broadband experience to an estimated 70 million visitors from home and abroad.

To expand the impact of real TD-LTE experience demonstration at the Expo, Motorola will also work with Jiangsu Mobile Communications Corporation to stage an equally exciting demonstration of the TD-LTE experience in the City of Suzhou. In addition to streamed videos and mobility, the demonstration will also showcase TD-LTE download speed at a rate of 80Mbps.

The unique advantage of Motorola’s TD-LTE technology originates from its extensive expertise in commercialized OFDM platforms. TD-LTE and WiMAX both belong to the TDD series which are all developed based on such core technologies as OFDM, all IP as well as flat network structure. That means that Motorola’s 10-year OFDM expertise as well as most of the WiMAX R&D expertise can be smoothly transitioned to TD-LTE to support the TD-LTE industry in China. The current Motorola’s real end-to-end TD-LTE demonstration network inside the Expo as well as the ongoing TD-LTE testing all have LTE software installed on the tested and field-proven WiMAX platforms, which has substantial difference from those using equipment under testing or concept equipment.

Motorola boasts a world class TD-LTE research and development team, including two China-based research centers: Motorola’s Wireless Broadband Access Solutions (WBAS) Hangzhou Center and the Wideband Base Transceiver System (WBTS) China Center. These research teams have been working with Chinese operators for many years and can provide valuable insights that enable a prompt response to local needs.

The Hangzhou Center has a research team of 300-plus top-notch professionals, dedicated to 4G research. They have accumulated vast and precious experience and expertise in such mobile communication technology and products as CDMA, GSM, UMTS and WiMAX, laying down solid foundation for research and development for TD-LTE. They rank among the top among all global research centers in technology capability, research processes, quality control and product turnaround time. This center is one of Motorola’s largest around the world with state-of-the-art research lab inside the center. Testing gauges, product development facilities and other auxiliary equipment valued at more than USD50 million are capable of carrying out testing on RF, hardware and software.

Complete testing on end-to-end 4G products can be conducted at the center. In addition, an IOT open lab was established in November 2009 to provide solid local support for inter-connectivity and compatibility testing for Motorola device as well as device of many equipment manufacturers. The current TD-LTE USB dongles demonstration at the Expo was tested and approved at this center.

Motorola is the first vendor within the industry that has achieved the optimal peak throughput for TD-LTE, successfully supporting China Mobile Communications Corporation’s TD-LTE demonstration in Taiwan as well as a series of demonstrations at the current Shanghai Expo. Also during the May Day Holiday, Motorola announced the successful completion of the first phase of outdoor testing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, laying the ground for large-scale deployment of TD-LTE. Motorola is working with three top-tier operators in Europe on testing the TD-LTE network

From the early days of simulated cells to GSM to the current LTE, Motorola has steadfastly maintained a long-term and strategic partnership relationship with China. At ITU Telecom 2009, Motorola provided support to CMCC in the world’s first TD-LTE live drive demo at 2.6GHz, winning praises from such dignitaries as Russian Minister of Communication and ECO of KDDI of Japan. Here at the Shanghai Expo, Motorola is, once again, working with CMCC to demonstrate to the world the functionality of the TD-LTE USB dongle that supports 2.3GHz, triggering the beautiful dreams for future communication within each visitor. It is expected that all these expertise will help Motorola maintain its industry leadership position, paving the way for the acceleration of commercialization of TD-LTE.

In the face of a lag of end devices on a commercial basis, Motorola is focused on testing of devices on the inter-connectivity and compatibility of many equipment manufacturers so as to speed up development of such end devices as data cards, PDAs and mobile phones to promote the entire TD-LTE ecosystem. During the Shanghai Expo, Motorola is conducting joint testing with three TD-LTD USB dongles and CPE manufacturers. It is expected that within a short period of time, the number will be rapidly expanding to further promote the ecosystem.

Bruce Brda, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola Networks business, said TD-LTE will not just be limited to Asia. Looking forward, Motorola will keep the momentum going and will work closely with CMCC, industry partners as well as operators around the world to bring TD-LTE to such places around the world as the Middle East, North and South Americas, India and Russia. LTE will become a truly encompassing global technology standard.