It happens that, only 41 percent of people are highly satisfied with their indoor experience when browsing or accessing social networks. This is according to a recent study conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab.
This, the report says, drops to 36 percent for more data-heavy apps: watching video, TV or movies online. Addressing this app coverage challenge, Ericsson is first to give smartphone users the benefit of concurrent access to both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, by delivering the first License Assisted Access (LAA) small cells.
Neville Ray, Chief Technical Officer, T-Mobile US, Inc., says: “With our LTE footprint, we look to innovations like License Assisted Access to help us drive an even better, more differentiated wireless experience. There’s approximately 550 MHz of underutilized spectrum in the 5 GHz Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band and LAA is one of the technologies we plan to develop and use in our continuing efforts to provide our customers with superior network performance. ”
Using only 4 percent of the 5 GHz band, LAA can provide up to a 150 Mbps speed increase to smartphone users. Each additional 4 percent of available spectrum used will increase the smartphone data speed further. Ericsson LAA also incorporates fair sharing within the 5 GHz band, to accommodate traditional Wi-Fi users. Fair sharing works on the principle that Wi-Fi and LAA users would have equal access to the spectrum.
Thomas Norén, Vice President, Head of Radio Product Management, Ericsson, says: “Consumers, businesses and industries are all transforming through mobility, placing ever greater demands on finite spectrum resources. So, we are very focused on innovations that improve app coverage while making ultra-efficient use of spectrum. One of the great things about LAA is its ‘rising tide’ effect, increasing system capacity and making way for better service to all users in the area, whether they have an LAA-enabled device, or are using Wi-Fi or cellular access.”
By applying LTE standards to the 5 GHz spectrum also used for Wi-Fi, users enjoy the security, reliability and carrier-grade Quality of Service of LTE networks. At the same time, all available wireless resources are optimized.
