RF&WirelessBlog

LTE gathers momentum but spectrum challenges still remain, says ABI Research

ABI Research is tracking 28 commercial FD-LTE networks, and counting. The company observes that no TD-LTE network has gone live yet, but commercial launches of this technology jointly developed by China and Qualcomm are getting closer, with the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) being formed in February this year to push forward its development and adoption. The five-month old initiative counts prominent WiMAX players such as Clearwire and P1 as its members, as well as major telco operators in Taiwan, India, Japan, and South Korea.

“The biggest concern facing many operators now is the squeeze on available spectrum,” says ABI research analyst Fei Feng Seet. “Regulators in certain countries have not yet announced any plans for LTE spectrum allocation.”

Countries such as Taiwan will not be ready for such LTE spectrum auctions any time soon, because the 700MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum bands, the most suitable for LTE, are still occupied, according to ABI Research.

Spectrum standardization for LTE deployments across the globe has also been a key issue. Verizon Wireless (along with a few other operators in the US) has led the way by facilitating LTE on 700MHz spectrum, while operators such as Mobyland in Poland and M1 in Singapore are using refarmed 1.8GHz spectrum. Several other operators are intending to deploy on higher spectrum bands such as 2.5 or 2.6GHz.

“A challenging issue to tackle will be the ability of LTE devices to support roaming across the various spectrum bands,” comments practice director Aditya Kaul, “but more industry collaboration is expected in the next few years as LTE achieves widespread adoption.”

European fund invests in spectral monitoring vendor CRFS

CRFS has announced an investment by Succès Europe, a Sophia Antipolis based European investment holding created by and for entrepreneurs. The Cambridge, UK, company develops and manufactures real-time spectral monitoring and management tools under the trade name RFeye.

The RFeye system is based on distributed networks of low cost, broadband, fixed or mobile, autonomous, intelligent nodes. Each RFeye node is a robust, GPS-equipped real-time spectrum analyser, which can be linked via any fixed or wireless IP-based backhaul network to provide a full set of contextual information. The system also includes a range of sophisticated data management and visualisation tools, and can be used for applications that include interference detection, spectrum license enforcement, military and intelligence uses, cell planning, RF environment checks and remote site monitoring.

 

According to Alistair Massarella, CEO of CRFS, the RFeye systems are finding worldwide acceptance amongst telecoms regulators and users of spectrum, and the company is also seeing increased interest in its products from military and homeland security customers.

 

"Succès Europe is delighted to be one of the first major investors in CRFS," said Candace Johnson, President Succès Europe. "CRFS was one of 21 companies chosen for investment out of more than 200 possible investment candidates across Europe in the fields of CleanTech, MedTech, ICT, and B2B. The company's management, business plan, innovation, technology, progress to date and addressable market thoroughly convinced us of their potential and ability to become a world-class company."

David Cleevely, Chairman of CRFS added, “The investment from Succès Europe shows how Angel investing can be truly international. Cambridge and Sophia Antipolis have been working together now for some time, and this outcome establishes CRFS as a truly European company. In addition to the funding, Angel investors are invaluable sources of advice and contacts, and we look forward to working with all our investors to ensure the growth and success of the company."