Mobile broadband set for speed boost

A group of high-profile technology firms have signed up to a licensing agreement that could pave the way for high-speed mobile broadband access.

Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, NEC and Sony Ericsson have all agreed price caps for patents relating to Long Term Evolution (LTE), a technology which aims to increase download speeds and reduce costs across the industry.

The companies claim that the framework will give the 3G partnership project a greater chance to succeed. Development of the first networks is expected to take at least two years.

Ilkka Rahnasto, head of Nokia's intellectual property rights, said: "Today's announcement is a step towards establishing more predictable and transparent licensing costs in a manner that enables faster adoption of new technologies."

Charges for key LTE patents will remain ten per cent beneath retail price, with royalties in LTE notebooks limited to $10.

China Mobile, the world's biggest mobile provider, announced in February that it is planning to trial the LTE system later this year.