Ericsson and Qualcomm have completed a demonstration of license assisted access (LAA) LTE technology, achieving data rates of up to 450Mbps.
The companies aggregated 5-GHz unlicensed spectrum with licensed LTE spectrum to achieve the data rates.
In a statement Ericsson said that LAA, or LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U), enables networks to improve capacity and data speeds while still providing a reliable user experience.
Operators including SK Telecom, Verizon and T-Mobile USA attended the demonstration and are already evaluating incorporating LAA into their existing LTE networks.
The trials involved incorporating 20 MHz of licensed LTE spectrum 40 MHz from the unlicensed 5-GHz band. It used technology designed to accommodate fair sharing with traditional Wi-Fi users.
"SK Telecom is very active in the development of 5G technologies, which will be an extension and evolution of our LTE network,” SK Telecom head of network technology R&D Park Jin-hyo said.
“We are delighted to achieve the successful trial of the 450Mbps LAA and fair-sharing technology with Ericsson and Qualcomm Technologies and will continue to work closely with them to secure advanced network technologies.”
Ericsson said it plans to add LAA technology to its indoor small cell portfolio starting in the fourth quarter of this year.