The Samsung GT-B3740, a USB modem, became the first LTE device to achieve GCF certification last month followed by a second device, the LG FM300 Xenon, an LTE-connected Wi-Fi router which was certified early April.
Both devices operate in Band 20, the ‘European Digital Dividend band’, in which LTE is currently being deployed in Germany.
Developed and maintained by an active partnership of operators, device manufacturers, the test industry and other interested parties, GCF Certification is designed to provide confidence that new devices are compliant with relevant standards and interoperable with network systems irrespective of infrastructure vendor.
Incorporating conformance, interoperability and field testing, GCF Certification provides a rigorous but pragmatic assessment of a new device based on standardized test methodologies. Some 400 different 3GPP mobile phones, wireless modems and connected devices achieved GCF Certification in 2010.
GCF expects to extend certification to several additional bands over the coming months. To date, operator members have identified a further eight bands – including FDD and TDD allocations – which are actively being brought within the scheme.