T-Mobile is demonstrating next generation mobile communications or NGMN (Next Generation Mobile Networks) using LTE (Long Term Evolution) techno-logy at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This is the first time such a demonstration has taken place internationally.
For the past three months, visitors to T-Mobile's headquarters in Bonn have been able to experience what impact NGMN could have on real life communications. T-Mobile is bringing this experience to Barcelona, allowing visitors to their booth to interact with users in Germany over a mobile video connection and through popular applications like multiplayer gaming and social net-working. This is how future subscribers will use the Next Generation Mobile Network to stay connected to colleagues, family and friends while on the go.
The demonstration comprises a high quality link between the stand in Barce-lona and a LTE-equipped van in Bonn, Germany. As the van travels along the test route, visitors will be able to experience LTE via high definition video conferencing between the van and the stand. They will be able to play online games with people in the van and see lightning-fast file downloads speeds. There will be a second screen which will demonstrate mobile IPTV. In addition, a remote camera will provide a video feed of what is happening in the van in Germany.
Previous trials within the NGMN alliance successfully demonstrated down-load rates of up to 170 Mbit/s and upload rates of up to 50 Mbit/s in optimal conditions. With a view to demonstrating a customer experience which is second-to-none, T-Mobile tested the exciting applications showed on the van under live conditions. This resulted in the successful transmission of data to and from a vehicle driving at speeds of up to 65 km/h late last year. On the test route data transmission went smoothly without interruption or loss of quality even across different cells – one of the most important pre-requisites for qualification as a mobile communications network of the future. The network used in this test was established by Nortel and consisted of a multi-cell end-to-end Nortel network. LG Electronics terminals were used in the vehicle.
"We're very pleased to see the continued success of our tests with Next Generation Mobile Networks," said Emin Gürdenli, EVP Radio Networks T-Mobile International and Technology Director, T-Mobile UK. "To ensure T-Mobile's ongoing leadership in mobile network technology and meet the growing demand from our customers for mobile data, it is vital that we prepare for the future. These tests of real-life applications are an important step in managing the eventual transition to a NGMN."