SAN JOSE, Calif.-Sprint Nextel Corp. joined the Global UMTS TDD Alliance, which is spearheaded by IPWireless Inc. Other companies joining the UMTS TDD Alliance include T-Mobile Czech Republic, which launched a UMTS TDD network in parts of the Czech Republic last month, and Malaysian carrier Maxis
The UMTS TDD Alliance claims more than 50 members, and said the technology has been deployed in 22 countries covering more than 20 million people.
Nextel Communications Inc., which Sprint Corp. acquired in early August, is running a network trial using IPWireless’ UMTS TDD technology in the Washington, D.C., area using its 2.5 GHz spectrum.
IPWireless noted the Nextel trial uses a 10-megahertz spectrum channel with average throughput of 1.5 megabits per second on the downlink and 500 kilobits per second on the uplink. Nextel said the trial, launched in June, will run for a minimum of six months and will be available only to select Nextel customers. The carrier said the service would not be offered commercially, at least initially.
Nextel launched a network trial last year using Flarion Technologies Inc.’s Flash-OFDM technology and leased 1.9 GHz spectrum in the Raleigh, N.C., area. That trial, which wrapped up June 30, included about 150 cell sites and initially was limited to select Nextel users in the area. Eventually the carrier expanded the test to more than 3,000 customers. Qualcomm Inc. recently announced plans to buy Flarion.
Sprint Nextel also joined the WiMAX Forum earlier this year.
