LTE commercial success 'by 2013'

Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile telecoms are expected to have more than 85 million users worldwide by 2013, according to forecasts.

A new report from Cantab Wireless indicates that LTE system specifications could be finalised by as early as June 2009, after which test networks will begin to appear in a number of countries.

LTE developers claim that it can offer broadband data speeds of up to 200Mbs, which far outstrips the performance of mobile 3G technology.

Cantab Wireless said in a statement: "LTE achieves such performance figures by employing several new techniques that have not been used in cellular systems before.

"The biggest question is not whether LTE will be adopted by mobile operators, but rather when it will be adopted."

Mobile company Motorola recently underlined its confidence in LTE in an industry first demonstration of VoIP calls and streaming video using the technology.

Dan Moloney, president of Motorola's Home and Networks Mobility business, said: "Our testing of LTE networks has demonstrated great forward movement for the cellular community into networks that are fast, agile and able to deliver content on consumers' terms."