First TD-LTE device certified

USA: The E398s-81, a USB dongle from Huawei Technologies, became the first TD-LTE device to achieve GCF Certification during September 2011. The device, which has been certified for use in Band 38 (2570-2620 MHz), is being used in the large scale trials of TD-LTE technology that are currently being conducted in China.

GCF, the Global Certification Forum, announced the extension of GCF Certification to TD-LTE for devices operating in Band 38 in July 2011. Certification for FD-LTE devices operating at 700 MHz (Band 13) and 800 MHz (Band 20) was introduced in December 2010 and extended to 2100 MHz (Band 1) and 2600 MHz (Band 7) in April of this year. Further bands will be brought within the scheme to reflect the variety of spectrum allocations that have been released for LTE in different parts of the world.

GCF Certification provides confidence that new devices are compliant with relevant standards and interoperable with other devices and network infrastructure systems irrespective of the vendors.

The availability of certified devices is an important milestone in the development of new mobile technologies such as TD-LTE. The first GCF-Certified FD-LTE devices, for the 800 MHz ŒEuropean Digital Dividend¹ band, were announced in April.

Led by China Mobile, GCF¹s work on TD-LTE has involved a broad coalition of GCF members including handset manufacturers, test equipment vendors, test labs and operators from around the world.

³The first certification for a TD-LTE device is a positive sign of the speed with which this important technology is maturing,³ said Adriana Nugter, Operations Manager of GCF.

"The certification of the E398s-81 is a testament to Huawei¹s support for TD-LTE,² said Mr. Shimin Wu, President of MBB Product Line, Huawei Device. ³The availability of a GCF-Certified device demonstrates that TD-LTE is rapidly approaching the point at which trials can give way to mass-market deployments.