LAA is key to delivering gigabit LTE
As more and more global operators begin to test and deploy gigabit LTE network technologies, License Assisted Access (LAA), is seen as a key to creating the wider spectral channels needed to increase throughput to the 1 Gbps level.
LAA allows an operators to join non-contiguous licensed spectrum with unlicensed spectrum. In the latest trial activity, Russian service provider MTS worked with Ericsson and Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon 835 mobile platform with X16 LTE modem supports gigabit LTE and LAA, and provides connectivity in the six in-market and coming soon smartphones compatible with gigabit LTE. In the lab test, MTS used an Ericsson Pico RBS 6402 small cell and a Qualcomm test device to aggregate licensed spectrum with frequencies in the 5 GHz band generally associated with Wi-Fi.
Qualcomm Europe’s VP of Business Development Yulia Klebanova discussed the test in terms of an evolution to 5G. “LAA enables more operators globally to offer gigabit LTE, which is an essential foundation when introducing the 5G mobile experience, and we look forward to working with infrastructure vendors, OEMs and network operators to advance mobile connectivity for subscribers across the world.”
In another test involving Ericsson and Qualcomm, U.S. carrier Verizon achieved 953 Mbps downlink throughput using LAA; and, in conjunction with Nokia and Qualcomm, MTS rival MegaFon is also exploring gigabit LTE, recently seeing 979 Mbps in a test.
While device support for gigabit-class LTE is still somewhat limited, there’s an interesting impact on the network of gigabit LTE, which is marked by 4×4 MIMO, 256 QAM and carrier aggregation. Essentially, Cat 16 devices use spectrum and network resources more efficiently to provide throughput enhancements. For users without Cat 16 devices, the increased efficiency associated with the Cat 16 devices opens up more spectral and network resources that can be tapped to provide a better experience for all network users.
