The groups behind the Ultra Mobile Broadband technology for wireless communications-which is often referred to as a 4G technology-announced that the specifications for the air interface have been published, and that UMB is now poised to become an official standard. The move is notable as it essentially creates a set of specifications that carriers, equipment makers and others can work from.
UMB, an acronym that replaces the CDMA EV-DO Revision C designation-supports peak download data rates of up to 288 Mbps in a 20 MHz slice of bandwidth, according to the CDMA Development Group and the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2). The technology supports wireless Voice over IP calling and other high-tech features.
UMB stands on the CDMA evolution path, and is often touted as an alternative to Long Term Evolution technology. LTE stands on the W-CDMA evolution path.
According to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), LTE is set to support peak data rates of 100 Mbps within a 20 MHz slice of spectrum. Work on the specifications for LTE technology is set to be completed sometime this month.
The 3GPP association works on technology specifications for the W-CMA evolution path, while the 3GPP2 works on technology for the CDMA evolution path.
The UMB announcement is notable as Verizon Wireless-a major CDMA backer-is considering joining its European parent company Vodafone in a move to LTE technology in order to improve international roaming and lower equipment costs.
UMB specification published
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