LTE (Long-Term Evolution)
Long-Term Evolution (LTE)
A Summary of LTE
Implications for Stakeholders
Application of Theories
Structured Cabling Issues
Technical Specifications
Operations Plan
Feasibility Study
Features of LTE
Past Technologies
The Best Choice?
Long-Term Evolution (LTE)
A Summary of LTE
Long-term evolution (LTE) is an emerging technology. It is a standard in wireless communication, and relates to the effective and efficient transfer of high-speed data for both data terminals and mobile phones (Sesia, Toufik, & Baker, 2011). Based on GSM/EDGE as well as UMTS/HSPA technologies, LTE increases both the speed and capacity of a network by utilizing modulation techniques that are new. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed the standard by which other companies must work if they are interested in getting involved with LTE (Agilent, 2009; Khan, 2009; Sesia, Toufik, & Baker, 2011). It was not until December of 2009 that LTE became publicly available. At that time, it was launched in Stockholm and Oslo by TeliaSonera (Dahlman, Ekstrom, & Furuskar, et al., 2006). Carriers who already use GSM or UMTS see LTE as the natural path they should take when upgrading, but even carriers who are still using the outdated CDMA for their mobile phones, such as Verizon Wireless, have stated that they will migrate to LTE. Because of that expected migration, LTE is believed to be a truly global standard for mobile phone technology.
Commonly, LTE is referred to as a type of 4G service. However, the current release version of LTE does not actually satisfy all 4G requirements (Dahlman, Parkvall, & Skold, 2011). In future releases, LTE is expected to meet all of those requirements and truly be considered 4G. Whether this actually takes place, and how soon, remains to be seen. The technology is alleged to be the next best thing, and to set the "gold standard" for any wireless communications carrier. However, there are still skeptics who are not convinced LTE is the wave of the future or the way to address problems with current wireless network communications. Additionally, there are implications for stakeholders of the companies that switch to LTE as well as concerns with integration of the new technology into what is currently available.
Implications for Stakeholders
When it comes to the stakeholders, there are several groups affected by the use of LTE. A corporation that wants to move to using LTE would need to consider a cost/benefit analysis, because LTE is an upgrade from what most companies are currently using. As such, there are benefits that would be received from upgrading, but there are also costs associated with any kind of upgrade of technology. For example, any company that is not using LTE currently would have to assess how much they would gain from making the adjustment. LTE costs more to implement in the short-term, but since it is expected to become the standard for wireless technology, it will also be beneficial for companies in that it will not quickly become obsolete like other technologies (Agilent, 2009; Dahlman, Parkvall, & Skold, 2011). When a company is using a particular kind of technology, and that technology becomes obsolete, it starts to cost the company money. Fewer people work on the technology, it becomes harder to get hardware and software for replacement or repair, and the technology simply does not work as well as newer options which are better quality, better funded, and on which companies are focusing.
Integration is a serious consideration for any company that wishes to use LTE, however, because large companies have many, many people using wireless technology (Dahlman, Parkvall, Skold, & Beming, 2008). If a corporation is paying for cellular phones for 50 employees, for example, that company will have a large outlay of cash to consider if it decides to upgrade its phones to a newer technology. Not all older phones will work with newer wireless technology, so the phones generally have to be replaced. That happened with 3G technology, and it is happening again with 4G and LTE. That is not to say that companies should not upgrade to technology that will be better and more easily used in the future, but only that companies have to consider all factors. Provided the company has the money to upgrade, LTE technology will help them with operational concerns such as increased productivity, better efficiency, and other long-term benefits (Dahlman, Ekstrom, & Furuskar, et al., 2006; Ekstrom, Furuskar, & Karlsson, et al., 2006). That benefit is true for management, nontechnical as well as technical staff, and the clients and customers of the company.
Application of Theories
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