Qualcomm extends LTE to unlicensed spectrum
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Qualcomm extends LTE to unlicensed spectrum

Qualcomm Technologies has today revealed the extension of LTE to unlicensed spectrum (LTE-U), in a bid to help operators meet the ever-increasing demand for mobile data.

LTE-U amplifies operators’ services to use channels in the less crowded 5GHz unlicensed bands, via a number of co-existence features.

“As the internet enters a new phase of growth, in which more devices are connected and share richer data, there is a need to cost-effectively address the challenges of a 1000x increase in mobile data traffic,” said Matt Grob, EVP and CTO at Qualcomm.

“To do this we need a combination of more spectrum, more efficient use of existing spectrum, and more small cells. Our job is to help the industry make the best use of all available spectrum, using both LTE and Wifi technologies, to increase capacity.”

The company has completed successful, over-the-air testing of the technology to prove the ability for LTE-U and Wifi access points to co-exist under extreme load conditions, and has integrated the technology into its latest small cell solutions.

“Adding LTE-U technology to our small cell solutions will provide additional capacity for opeators to augment existing mobile broadband and deliver seamless connectivity experiences,” added Neville Meijers, VP and business development at Qualcomm.

Qualcomm will demonstrate LTE-U at Mobile World Congress 2015 next month in Barcelona, Spain. 

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