Novatel Wireless today announced that it has successfully completed the first data transmission call using Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G technology. Fascinatingly, LTE provides data rates of up to 100Mbps on the uplink and 50 Mbps on the downlink by leveraging new, wider bandwidth spectrum. Many operators are already planning to overlay LTE on their 3G networks to augment data capacity. Novatel Wireless is working with operators and plans to launch commercial data devices in late 2010.
“We are pleased to achieve these important first data transmission milestones on next generation technologies, last week with dual carrier HSPA+, and now with LTE, and we expect to leverage our industry-leading position to offer 4G wireless data products to our customers,” said Dr. Slim Souissi, CTO, Novatel Wireless. “We believe our aggressive development efforts will enable us to deliver these innovative solutions with the fastest possible time to market.”
All I’ve got to say is I want one. Now. Whatever form-factor it comes in, I’ve got to have that 4G data love as soon as possible!