LG Electronics and Nortel have demonstrated the first 3GPP standards compliant active handover of a data transmission between a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and a CDMA network.

The demonstration successfully showed that online activities such as video downloads, web surfing and VoIP calls can be maintained when a mobile data user moves between LTE and CDMA coverage zones.

LG contributed to the demonstration by developing a CDMA/LTE device, the M13. LG has been focusing on developing CDMA/LTE devices and equipment since 2006 to drive the next generation of mobile technology, achieving prominence with the unveiling of the first modem chipset for 4G LTE devices in December 2008.

Operators around the world are preparing to launch LTE with major deployments expected as early as 2010. Initially, LTE networks will co-exist with existing CDMA networks but will eventually be expanded to provide widescale 4G mobile broadband coverage. Inter-technology handover allowing mobile users the ability to move between LTE and CDMA networks without losing data connectivity means that operators can run these networks concurrently without impacting services. This will help to ensure that users have full network coverage while taking advantage of LTE speeds, wherever initially available.

"The 2010 LTE commercial launch for CDMA operators represents a milestone," said Kim In-kyung, Vice President of 4G Development Team, LG Electronics Mobile Handset R&D Center. "LG?s new M13 terminal is the result of successful collaboration with Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm. The technology is the key to enabling CDMA network operators an incremental LTE network deployment over a national CDMA network."

The test by LG and Nortel successfully demonstrated the feasibility of idle mode handover between CDMA and LTE and active mode handover from LTE to CDMA leveraging device assisted, network controlled functionality. The demonstration was conducted over 700MHz spectrum using Nortel CDMA Evolved High-Rate Packet Data (eHRPD) 1xEV-DO and Nortel LTE solution with LG?s dual-mode CDMA-LTE M13 terminal. The M13 terminal is a test device created with commercial grade components that will form the basis for a consumer device which is expected to be available in 2010.

The handover between CDMA and LTE networks was completed in a live-air environment at Nortel?s Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Canada.