Qualcomm rumored to be eyeing BWA in India, Verizon CTO reiterates that all-you-can-eat data plans can't last, and more

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

March 12, 2010

2 Min Read
LTE Watch: Qualcomm's Next-Gen Bid in India

A broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum auction in India could spark a showdown between US supporters of different pre-4G technologies, in this week's rundown of Long Term Evolution (LTE) news.

  • Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM) could be gearing up to bid in the coming BWA auction in India next year, according to the Hindu Business Line. The paper, citing industry sources, says Qualcomm is looking for carrier partners and "exploring the possibility of forming a consortium for the bidding."

    The paper believes that any Qualcomm move could force Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) into the BWA fray. The PC chipmaker continues to be the major vendor interested in supporting global WiMax deployments.

  • No surprise here, but LTE could mean the end of unlimited data plans for Verizon Wireless . "As much data as you can consume is the big issue that has to change," CTO Tony Melone tells The Wall Street Journal, a comment that isn't making bloggers happy. Melone has, however, consistently said that the carrier can't sustain all-you-can-eat data plans since 2008. (See Verizon Mandates 3G Data Plans.)

  • Speaking of Verizon and LTE, is Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) the company most likely to be supplying Verizon with its first phone using the new technology? It's a definite possibility. Consider that Samsung is already working with Verizon on test devices for LTE and has developed dongles and even a netbook outfitted with the technology.

  • Telia Company is planning to update its LTE network, claiming that users in Central Stockholm might see top download speeds of 80 Mbit/s by the spring. The upgrade is part of the carrier's plan to deploy LTE in 25 more locations in Sweden this year.

  • Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is promising to anounce "ground-breaking enhancements" to its LTE platform in a press conference next Thursday. Stay tuned!

    Need more on LTE? Just click below:

    • SingTel Shows Off LTE

    • EXFO Buys NetHawk

    • Ethertronics Readies LTE Antennas

    • Anadigics Intros LTE Amps

    • IPWireless Wins in Wyoming

    • Court Could Halt German LTE Auction

    — Dan Jones, Site Editor, Light Reading Mobile

    Evolved Packet Core is quickly emerging as the linchpin for mobile networks moving into the 4G era, and mobile operators are now starting to crank up their efforts to understand EPC and the implications it has for their network plans. Light Reading and its Heavy Reading research unit have created a brand-new program to help you pinpoint exactly where your company stands in the race to embrace EPC and related technologies. How does your company’s EPC readiness compare with the competition's? To find out, just take a few minutes to complete our EPC Benchmark questionnaire by following this link: www.lightreading.com/evolved-packet-core-benchmark-survey.asp.

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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