October 06, 2009, 4:21 PM — NTT DoCoMo expects to have an LTE (Long-term Evolution) chipset that supports download speeds up to 100M bits per second ready for commercial use at the end of 2010.
When DoCoMo rolls out LTE cellular services next year, the technology will offer significantly faster data speeds than current 3G networks. A sample of the LTE-PF chipset was on display at DoCoMo's booth at the Ceatec exhibition in Chiba, Japan. Measuring 6.8 millimeters square, the chip offers download speeds of 100M bps and upload speeds of 50M bps.
DoCoMo also showed off two concept LTE data cards, a mockup USB dongle from LG and a concept Express Card from Fujitsu. The operator didn't show any LTE handset concepts since the service will first be offered as a high-speed data service for laptops and other computing devices, starting in 2010.
LTE services will be extended to handsets in 2011.
DoCoMo has long been one of the most aggressive operators in terms of rolling out new mobile technologies. The company was the first in the world to offer commercial 3G services, starting in 2001. And DoCoMo is set to build out its LTE network very quickly, with executives saying the company will spend between ¥300 billion and ¥400 billion (US$3.3 billion to $4.6 billion) during the first five years that the service is in operation.
