ZTE has carried out an FDD/TDD LTE packet switched (PS) handover test, setting the ground for seamless communications between different LTE modes. Infrastructure used during the trial featured commercial network equipment from ZTE and an FDD/TDD LTE dual-mode USB card, provided by Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company (ASTRI). The test showcased a fully operational FDD/TDD LTE bi-directional handover.

ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, has completed the world’s first FDD/TDD LTE PS handover test. This test provides the foundation for seamless communications between different LTE modes.

The infrastructure used to carry out the test consists of commercial system equipment provided by ZTE and an FDD/TDD LTE dual-mode USB card, provided by Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI). The test showed that when the FDD/TDD LTE dual-mode device is connected to the LTE network and large files are downloaded, the success rate of the FDD/TDD LTE bi-directional handover can be up to 100%. Moreover, the quality of the user experience was not affected.

This experiment was designed to improve user experience in an FDD/TDD LTE handover scenario. It is a part of ZTE’s strategy to push LTE interoperability and convergence. ZTE completed the world’s first TDD-LTE and FDD-LTE/UMTS/GSM interoperability test. ZTE also launched the first TDD- LTE/FDD-LTE/UMTS/GSM multi-mode data card and the TD-LTE/TD-SCDMA/GSM dual-standby smart phone prototype. Last year, the first TDD-LTE/FDD-LTE dual-mode network was unveiled in Sweden by ZTE and Hi3G.

"The supported functions and improved performance provide opportunities for operators to speed up the development of the LTE industry,” said Wang Shouchen, Vice President, ZTE. “As a next step, ZTE is looking to deploy this technology in its launched networks.”

As of Q1 2012, ZTE had concluded 30 LTE commercial contracts and over 100 trial networks with leading operators. Eight of them have already been commercially launched, including CSL in Hong Kong, SoftBank in Japan, Hi3G in Sweden, H3G in Austria and Bharti Airtel in India.