Carrier aggregation – (one) key enabler for LTE-Advanced News

(one) key enabler for LTE-Advanced Analysts anticipate that by the end of 2012, 152 LTE networks will be on air in 68 countries worldwide. Compared to previous technology rollouts (2G, 3G, 3.5G), this is by far the fastest adaptation that the wire-less industry has seen to date. But even with all marketing departments of all network operators adver-tising today’s LTE deployments as 4G, speaking strictly technical – they are not. LTE in its definition as of 3GPP Release 8 does not meet all IMT-Advanced requirements as set by ITU to be designated a true 4G mobile communications technology 1). 3GPP, short for 3rd Generation Partnership Project and the standard-ization body behind LTE, is addressing and exceeding these requirements while standardizing LTE-Advanced as part of its Release 10 for all relevant technical specifications. This article describes the most demanded feature within the LTE-Advanced feature set in greater detail: carrier aggregation. It further outlines how leading Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement solutions support carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation and its different types as part of the LTE-Advanced feature set While the industry is still facing challenges with LTE, e.g. offering circuit-switched services such as SMS and voic