T-Mo, VZW Evolve LTE Networks

October 2, 2014

By J. Sharpe Smith —

October 2, 2014 — Mobile carriers are continuing to make strides to evolve their LTE networks to provide increased capacity through carrier aggregation, improved voice quality through voice over LTE and connectivity with Wi-Fi networks.

T-Mobile selected Ericsson to provide equipment and services for the expansion of its nationwide 4G LTE network, improvement of in-building, highway and rural performance, and expansion of VoLTE services.

The contract is an extension of T-Mobile’s 2012 build out, which featured Ericsson’s RBS 6000 base station equipment, installed 700 MHz, 1900 MHz and 1700/2100 MHz bands.

T-Mobile is the first U.S. wireless carrier to deploy enhanced Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (eSRVCC) technology, which enables a seamless handover of VoLTE calls from LTE to existing 2G or 3G networks. As voice remains a critical service for LTE networks, Ericsson has delivered its Session Border Gateway and Ericsson Media Resource System to support voice handovers using eSRVCC.

Nokia Networks is also providing LTE-Advanced equipment and services to T-Mobile in the 700 MHz and 1900 MHz bands for expanded availability of VoLTE and Wi-Fi seamless call/text mobility. The LTE equipment includes the Flexi Multiradio10 Base Station platform for 700MHz radio sites and the LTE/GSM RF sharing solution for 1900 MHz sites. As part of the agreement, Nokia Networks is providing LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation for all T-Mobile spectrum bands.

Customers will be able to use any public or private Wi-Fi connection for calling and texting. This new technology is designed to deliver seamless voice coverage between T-Mobile’s VoLTE network and Wi-Fi with compatible smartphones.

VZW Doubles Spectrum Access in 80 percent of its Markets

Verizon Wireless has launched XLTE in 22 new markets, bringing the total to more than 400 markets or four out of five Verizon Wireless 4G LTE markets.

XLTE, Verizon’s brand for LTE Advanced technology, doubles the amount of spectrum available through the use of carrier aggregation, which accesses both 700 MHz spectrum and the AWS spectrum . Customers with 4G LTE devices operating solely on the 700 MHz spectrum in XLTE markets also benefit from the extra capacity created by XLTE Ready device traffic moving to the AWS spectrum.

New XLTE markets span from Ocala, Florida, to Sedalia, Missouri, and Lihue, Hawaii.