Verizon makes LTE data call

US carrier Verizon Wireless said Friday that it has completed its first successful LTE data calls in Boston and Seattle using the 3GPP Release 8 standard in the 700MHz spectrum.

The data calls showcased streaming video, file uploads and downloads, web browsing and VoIP.

Boston and Seattle each now have ten LTE cell sites up and running on the 700MHz spectrum and will act as a test bed to help Verizon Wireless better understand issues that include how to best prepare cell sites and how to add the technology to the network.

Verizon expects to commercially launch LTE in up to 30 markets in 2010, covering 100 million people, with an eye to full nationwide coverage in 2013.

Alcatel-Lucent supplied the infrastructure for Boston and Ericsson supplied kit for Seattle, with Starent Networks and Nokia Siemens Networks supplying other network equipment. LG and Samsung supplied trial devices, although these will soon be supplemented by other devices from ST-Ericsson, Motorola and Qualcomm.