3GPP LTE Progressing Nice and Steady

Press release from 3G Americas yesterday, applauds the progress of LTE standardisation over the recent months.

“3G Americas has consistently supported the 3GPP standards for the GSM family of technologies and we applaud the progress of the LTE standard. LTE is a dynamic OFDM-based next generation technology with a great future. 3G Americas is committed to not only today’s global leading standards of GSM, EDGE and UMTS/HSPA but also to the innovation that LTE provides our industry,” stated Chris Pearson, President of 3G Americas.

Pearson added, “With this recent approval, the LTE Terrestrial Radio Access Network technology specifications will be under change control, and included in the forthcoming 3GPP Release 8.”

Meanwhile Martin suggests in his blog that voice will be the real test for LTE networks.

While on mobile Internet devices it might be acceptable to have Skype or some other VoIP technology, smaller handsets who's main purpose is voice service might have a much more difficult time with VoIP. Such devices must also be capable of roaming to 2G and 3G networks when running out of LTE coverage. Especially in 2G networks, VoIP is a no go so voice service must fall back to good old circuit switched telephony. So apart from the question of how VoIP will be done on LTE handsets the much bigger question is how to make the experience seamless over 2G, 3G and LTE.

More about that here.