LTE will improve latency as well as speed

Attention has been focused on the higher speeds that will be offered by next generation LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile networks, but improved latency will be equally important to users, according to Nokia Siemens.

Real time applications sensitive to delays, including VoIP (Voice over IP) video streaming, video conferencing and gaming will perform better with LTE, according to a Nokia Siemens spokeswoman at the company's CeBIT booth. The company demonstrated improved real time performance with a table tennis game using Nintendo's Wii over an LTE link. Nokia Siemens also showed video conferencing using LTE.

LTE will offer latency below 20 milliseconds, which is about half that of current HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access) networks and much lower than the 120 milliseconds of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks, said the spokeswoman, who asked not to be quoted by name.

There are now 59 operators committed to LTE network deployments in 28 countries, according to data from the industry organisation Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). That compares to 39 operators six months ago, the GSA said in a statement Sunday.

Up to 22 LTE networks will be used to offer services by the end of 2010 and 37 networks will be commercially launched by the end of 2012, according to the GSA.

Besides LTE, Nokia Siemens also demonstrated HSPA+ at 42Mbps (bits per second) with Deutsche Telekom at CeBIT. The test used network equipment from Nokia Siemens and a USB modem with a Qualcomm chipset.