Alcatel-Lucent supplies AT&T with LTE technology

Alcatel-Lucent announced that it will supply LTE equipment to carrier AT&T for its deployment of LTE mobile broadband technology and radio access network domain.

AT&T is planning to begin LTE trials later this year, with commercial deployment scheduled to begin in 2011.

Alcatel-Lucent currently provides equipment for the existing AT&T 3G network and will upgrade existing equipment to accommodate LTE capabilities. Also, the company will supply AT&T with necessary equipment for the radio access network needed to access LTE service.

“This is a critical step forward in AT&T’s ongoing mobile broadband strategy to deliver and support the next generation of mobile applications”, said Alcatel-Lucent CEO Ben Verwaayen.

John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations, added that Alcatel-Lucent’s solution was crucial to “quickly move toward LTE while enhancing our existing 3G performance”.

Alcatel-Lucent will provide its LTE base stations (eNodeBs), part of the company’s Converged RAN portfolio, as well as Element Management Systems (EMS) and engineering and installation services.

Field testing will include stationary and drive tests with multiple users in a variety of field conditions, including handovers and in-building testing on a dual band network. The tests will be performed using AWS and 700 MHz spectrum, as well as HSPA bandwidth.

Alcatel-Lucent has secured 40 LTE customer trials so far, engaging in LTE projects pursued by global operators around the world. The company offers unique, pre-integrated, end-to-end LTE solution and a full set of associated professional services.

Alcatel-Lucent is one of the global providers of fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services for service providers, enterprises and governments worldwide, offering solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users in more than 130 countries.