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The roll-out of fully functional, faster, more efficient next generation mobile broadband came a step closer today, with Verizon Wireless completing successful LTE tests in the US.
With the next mobile broadband standard still not 100 per cent decided, the States is as good a place as any to watch the two potential contenders battle it out. So far, WiMax has an advantage in that it is already up and running in some areas, and last week Clearwire, which has adopted the WiMax standard, announced that it would be launching its services in ten new US markets next month.
Now Verizon has a conducted successful LTE data call in both Seattle and Boston, including streaming video, uploading and downloading, web browsing and VoIP. Both cities have 10 LTE sites up and running - although only for testing at present - and Verizon has said it plans to launch its LTE mobile broadband in 30 markets in 2010, and have a full nationwide network by 2013.
Tony Melone, senior vice president and CTO at Verizon commented that the LTE mobile broadband network will make a "ubiquitous, highly mobile, super-fast broadband experience a reality for customers."
