TD-LTE is touted to have many advantages over the FDD one. Regular LTE networks carry two separate signals, one for data travelling in each direction, whereas TD-LTE works over a single channel, simply allocating upload or download bandwidth depending on what you do. Plus, TD-LTE is so similar to normal LTE that the same chip can be used for both, making it easy for device makers to adopt the new technology. What’s more, TDLTE is fully-compatible with existing GSM/HSPA technologies with support for seamless mobility between these technologies. It is possible to upgrade even earlier WiMAX networks to the 4G TD-LTE, unlike the incompatibility between normal LTE and WiMAX.
Not surprisingly, the 2011 episode of CommunicAsia seemed to suggest the gaining popularity of this new standard, which has a Chinese origin. Apple is also considering a TD-LTE device.
Standards—on-the-mark, get-set, go!
“As per an Ericsson Consumer Insights study, out of nearly 5 billion people who are estimated to have mobile broadband by 2016, about 95 per cent will be served by HSPA, WCDMA and LTE networks,” says Dhawan.
The current distribution of the various standards varies significantly across different regions and countries. A significant part of the world still uses GSM/GPRS/EDGE as the primary broadband technology, being only in the very early stages of introducing 3G standards. Some advanced countries, however, are already in the maturity stage of UMTS/HSPA standards and in the initial stages of 4G WiMAX 802.16m and 3GPP LTE.
The strongest trend in the future is clearly for the LTE standard. Apart from using the latest techniques and technologies in modulation, multiple access, coding, routing, radio and antennas, LTE has the additional advantage of being the only preferred 4G cellular standard globally with support of all major operators, and has possession of the lucrative lower-level spectrum (e.g., 700 MHz in many countries). All of this makes it a very strong force in the BWA revolution.
Dr Borkar confirms, “In the foreseeable future the global market seems to be almost equally divided between GSM/GPRS/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA, LTE, and WiMAX with the first two declining, LTE expanding, and WiMAX comparatively stable or marginally increasing.”
“Whatever standard wins, there will be co-existence of UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+, WiMAX, Wi-Fi and LTE, and seamless session mobility and inter operability (at packet core) to meet the user-demand will be the way forward. Wireless spectrum availability always is a challenge and to address this, leveraging on all the access technologies will be the need of the hour,” says Srinivasan.
Does India have a special need for BWA?
Would India benefit in any specific way by the adoption of BWA technologies? Of course, say the experts. BWA will be very beneficial in covering the interior regions of India that are not yet covered by wired lines.
[stextbox id=”info” caption=”Transitioning to BWA networks”]
Transitioning to next-generation broadband wireless access networks requires upgrades in terms of the core network infrastructure, backhaul networks, devices and applications. A smooth transition also requires a clear migration path for operators.
1. Radio access network. UMTS, LTE and WiMAX require new RANs to be installed.
2. Backhaul networks. First to support the broadband access, we need to upgrade the speed of backhaul networks. From the current 10G Ethernet speed, it needs to be upgraded to 40G or even 100G. Upgrading to the highest speed will ensure that more base stations can be connected to the backhaul.
3. Devices. The availability of BWA devices at affordable costs will increase more penetration and acceptance of the technology. Users would typically require access devices such as USB dongles, mobile devices with built-in 4G modems (e.g., phones and iPad), or fixed wireless modems at home for BWA. Several products using WiMAX 802.16e are already available today, and 4G WiMAX products will also be available soon. In the case of LTE too, market leaders like Samsung, LG and Ericsson have launched a few chipsets for the pre-4G version, while a lot more chipsets and devices are currently in the development/trial stage for LTE-Advanced. The availability of LTE devices is on the rise, and prices are expected to see a downward movement from 2012 going forward.
4. Applications. The availability of rich applications that will completely utilise the abilities of BWA networks will speed up the adoption of such technologies.
5. Migration path for 3G operators. A clear migration path for 3G operators to move into 4G by reusing as much of the core and service infrastructure network elements needs to be clearly laid down. There is a clear migration path available for operators to move from 2G to 3G UMTS to LTE if they have adopted 3GPP family of products. Transitioning from 3G to 4G will be easier for operators using 3GPP technologies than WiMAX ones. WiMAX is more likely to be adopted by new operators than existing ones.
[/stextbox]
You could use a standard to determine this.