First LTE mobile devices achieve GCF certification

TAIWAN: The Samsung GT-B3740, a USB modem, became the first LTE device to achieve GCF Certification on 31 March 2011. A second device, the LG FM300 Xenon, an LTE-connected wifi router, was certified on 4 April 2011. Both devices operate in Band 20, the ‘European Digital Dividend band’, in which LTE is currently being deployed in Germany.

Developed and maintained by an active partnership of operators, device manufacturers, the test industry and other interested parties, GCF Certification is designed to provide confidence that new devices are compliant with relevant standards and interoperable with network systems irrespective of infrastructure vendor.

Incorporating conformance, interoperability and field testing, GCF Certification provides a rigorous but pragmatic assessment of a new device based on standardised test methodologies. Some 400 different 3GPP mobile phones, wireless modems and connected devices achieved GCF Certification in 2010.

“The first device certifications for LTE, as for any new mobile technology, are a significant milestone,“ said Adriana Nugter, Operations Manager of GCF. “Reducing acceptance testing overheads for manufacturers and operators alike, the extension of GCF’s trusted scheme to LTE bands will accelerate the development of LTE devices for the mass-market.”

"Samsung has been a committed advocate of GCF Certification and is delighted that the GT-B3740 has become the first LTE device to be GCF-certified,” said JK Shin, president and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. “Building confidence in the interoperability of devices among operators and end-users is paramount to Samsung; GCF Certification will further promote the take-up of the enhanced speeds and capabilities offered by new technologies such as LTE.”

GCF expects to extend certification to several additional bands over the coming months. To date, operator members have identified a further eight bands – including FDD and TDD allocations – which are actively being brought within the scheme.