If LTE Works, Then Do We Need WiMAX?

 

According to the LTE/SAE Trial Initiative (LSTI) it has completed a second round of LTE tests, which show that the technology is on track with their expectations to bring faster wireless broadband capabilities to the mass-market.

 

The LSTI consists of companies from across the global telecom industry.  The LSTI has established a number of parameters for LTE (Long Term Evolution).  Here are a few of the key LTE parameters:

 

• Downlink rates of 100 Mbit/s, and uplink rates of 50 Mbit/s for every 20 MHz of spectrum.
• Support all IP transactions.

 

The complete list of operating parameters the LSTI is seeking to build into LTE is very large.  However, for a moment keep the above two parameters in mind.

 

WiMAX is defined as having:

 

• Downlink (from the cell to the subscriber) throughput of 100 Mbps or more, and corresponding uplink speeds of at least 50 Mbps.
• Supports IP transactions

 

By no means is the above a complete list of operating parameters and attributes – so please no letters complaining I left things off.  Data speed is usually what engineers point to first to demonstrate capability.

 

The point I am making is that WiMAX and LTE goals are similar.  So similar that investors need to ask: Should carriers like Sprint pursue WiMAX now?

 

We need to wait for the published trial results before any decisions are made.