LG, Nortel demonstrate data handover between CDMA and LTE

LG and Nortel say they have demonstrated the world's first 3GPP standards-compliant handover of a data transmission between an LTE network and a CDMA network. The demonstration is deemed significant because it means LTE and CDMA networks can interoperate and operators can run the two concurrently.

The test by LG and Nortel demonstrated the feasibility of idle mode handover between CDMA and LTE and active mode handover from LTE to CDMA leveraging device assisted, network controlled functionality. The demonstration was done over 700 MHz spectrum using Nortel's CDMA 1xEV-DO and its LTE solutions with LG's dual-mode CDMA-LTE M13 terminal, a test device that will form the basis for a consumer device which is expected to be available in 2010.

LG said the test showed that activities such as video downloading and Web surfing could be maintained as a subscriber switches between LTE and CDMA coverage areas. Nortel's CDMA and LTE businesses, sans the LTE patents and a small R&D team, are set to be owned by Ericsson, which bid on the vendor's bankrupt assets in July and won with a $1.1 billion bid. The deal is winding through the approval process.

The demonstration is also significant in that CDMA operators are expected to be the ones moving most aggressively to LTE. Indeed, Verizon Wireless is in the midst of rolling out its initial LTE efforts in Boston and Seattle with an aggressive nationwide schedule. Indeed, the carrier recently reported a successful data call using gadgets from suppliers including LG. However, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent are the carrier's primary network suppliers.

For more:
- see cellular-news [1]

Related articles:
Ericsson emerges as winner of Nortel's CDMA, LTE assets [2]
Canada's CDMA operators defect to HSPA/LTE [3]
Nortel watches as Ericsson capitalizes on CDMA-to-LTE conversion [4]