Nokia has just informed everyone of the success its 4G real-world test achieved, also known as “long-term evolution” (LTE) wireless technology. This test was run in an urban environment on the 2.6GHz spectrum, and managed to hit a maximum download speed of 173Mbps - doing better than what previous results from more controlled trials brought about. That’s a whole lot of throughput by any measure, with the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP) of which Nokia is a part of has already started to tout the results as the green light that LTE is capable of providing the combination of bandwidth, range, scalability, and low-power that users look forward to from a 4G service.

This 173Mbps figure came about with Nokia installing a prototype base station for ongoing LTE tests at the very top of the Heinrich Hertz Institute building in the center of Berlin, a place where there is plenty of interference which logically degrades bandwidth. This test (a first of its kind to boot) boasted different users connected to the new base station, so you can expect that the 173Mbps throughput number to somewhat resemble real world peak. In addition, the LTE throughput was tested by Nokia by placing terminals in vehicles and driving them up to 1km away from the base station with encouraging results.

According to Nokia’s Matthias Reiss, “We can demonstrate that LTE meets the high expectations set for this new technology. Most importantly, we now have evidence that future LTE networks can run on existing base station sites and mobile operators can build LTE networks without requiring new antenna sites.” Guess mobile devices with Internet connections are now the norm, so the future will be anything but bleak. Bear in mind though that LTE won’t roll out anytime soon despite looking faster than WiMAX on paper as it will probably see a 2010 commercial rollout as compared to WiMAX’s 2008 timeframe.

Source: ArsTechnica