[By Blake Robinson] Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless will use Long Term Evolution (LTE) as its next mobile broadband platform, the company announced today. Co-owner Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) and Verizon will begin a coordinated trial in 2008. Vodafone currently uses GSM, which LTE is based on, and has been frustrated with Verizon’s reliance on CDMA; this should lead to great interoperability. Both have been working within 3GPP.
With Verizon and Vodafone choosing LTE, the spectrum should get some serious traction. The numbers are still very speculative but Juniper Research predicts roughly 24 million LTE subscribers by 2012. Cellular-News.com has more on the report.
The announcement comes on the heels of rumors that Sprint (NYSE: S) Nextel is experiencing problems satisfying its investors with Xohm, its 4G WiMax initiative. The company says it remains committed to plans for deployment in its three testbeds — Baltimore, Chicago and D.C. — early next year.
FT: The decision strikes a blow against Qualcomm’s (NSDQ: QCOM) CDMA and Ultra Mobile Broadband as well as Intel’s (NSDQ: INTC) WiMax. CDMA
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