Optus claims world first with LTE-A 3x CA launch

Optus has claimed a world first with the launch of a cutting-edge LTE-Advanced network that can deliver download speeds of 317 Mbps.

The company has switched on a 3x Carrier Aggregation LTE-A in the suburbs of Lambton, Mayfield and Mayfield West in Newcastle, ahead of the launch of compatible devices in Australia.

Optus said it is the first live network to combine one block of frequency division duplex (FDD) LTE spectrum with two time division duplex (TDD) LTE carriers.

FDD LTE and TDD LTE are the two prevailing 4G technologies, and operators are increasingly using a combination of both to improve coverage and speeds.

Optus plans to extend the network to the Melbourne CBD in early September, the Sydney CBD early next year and the Brisbane and Adelaide CBDs from mid-2016.

To take advantage of the new network, customers will need to be using a Category 9 LTE smartphone. Such devices are not yet commercially available in Australia.

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S6 edge+ and Samsung Galaxy Note 5 smartphones, announced last week, will support the new standard.

"Aggregating 1x FDD + 2x TDD carriers on a commercial network with a commercial device is a world first for Optus. It is a more efficient use of our spectrum bands and will provide a more consistent and better experience for our customers," Optus Networks Acting Managing Director Dennis Wong said.

“While we look forward to 3x CA in category 9 devices, current Optus customers with category 6 devices can already enjoy the 2x Carrier Aggregation (2x CA) technology.”

Optus currently offers 2x CA in areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin as well as 20 major regional centres.

Image courtesy of Alan Levine under CC