Meeting the World with a
Mobile Phone
Whenever and Wherever

In January 2008, ETRI succeeded in developing and demonstrating the ‘3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) LTE (Long Term Evolution)’ technology, a next-generation mobile communication system that allows transmission of various types of data at over 100 Mbps when moving at 3 km an hour, and at 30 Mbps even when traveling at a high speed of 120 km an hour. Jointly developed with Samsung Electronics and KTF, 3GPP LTE represents a much higher level of technological advance compared to WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), the 3rd generation mobile communication standard. In fact, it is considered a technology that is close to 4th generation technology as it can support multimedia services even when a user is moving at high speed.

Evolution of
Mobile Communication

HSDPA stands for ‘high speed downlink packet access,’ a much-enhanced service compared to the 3rd generation WCDMA, which evolved from the existing 2nd generation mobile communication standard, CDMA. HSDPA services are provided over refurbished WCDMA networks.

HSDPA enables significantly faster data transmission than possible with WCDMA or CDMA. Due to this advantage, it is called a 3.5G mobile communication system, along with WiBro, a portable Internet service, and is a technology for high-speed mobile communication. HSDPA offers a downlink speed of 14.4 Mbps and allows data download at a maximum of 14 Mbits per second. For example, it takes about 6 to 7 minutes to download a full movie using an HSDPA-based mobile phone.

Preempt
3G Evolution Technology!

Unlike the third-generation mobile communication technology WCDMA, ‘3GPP LTE’, developed at ETRI jointly with Samsung Electronics and KTF, is considered a 4th Generation technology as it allows multimedia services at high speed while on the move. In terms of data transmission rate, it is 7 times faster than 3.5-generation HSDPA.

‘3G Evolution Technology’ is the next phase in the mobile communication evolution, following the 3rd generation technologies that enabled video calls and data download at low speed. The new technology ensures a transmission rate of over 100 Mbps when traveling at a low speed (3 km/h) and over 30 Mbps when traveling at a high speed (120 km/h). This means that a user can download an entire movie in just dozens of seconds. 3GPP standardization bodies led by Europe have started standardization and development of 3G LTE (Long Term Evolution) Technologies from the end of 2004. Meanwhile, ETRI launched its own system development focusing on the technologies that it predicted to be adopted as standards in the future.

The 3G evolution technology allows users to enjoy high-resolution movies or video calls at a speed 7 times faster (over 100 Mbps) than was possible using the technology available back in 2008. ETRI succeeded for the first time in the world in developing an LTE/SAE system that satisfied the 3GPP specifications and functionality. ETRI also developed an open terminal platform that could accommodate security and various other technologies to ensure mobility between heterogeneous networks, thereby ensuring uninterrupted services to mobile users. This served as a firm foundation for 4th generation mobile communication technologies.

There were two leading standardization bodies for mobile communication – 3GPP in Europe and 3GPP2 in the US. At the time, the technologies for 3G evolution had already passed the stage for complete standardization and were often considered strong candidates for 4th generation mobile communication. ETRI, by devising a system in conjunction with 3GPP LTE/SAE standards being pursued by 3GPP, independently developed an algorithm that was not part of the standard specifications. With this achievement, ETRI succeeded in developing the world’s very first mobile communication system that satisfied the requirements of 3GPP LTE/SAE. Furthermore, ETRI successfully created prototypes for the first time in the world by utilizing the developed wireless transmission technology, as well as terminals and base station systems.

Embracing New Ubiquitous
Services

ETRI’s intellectual property in terms of 3G Evolution standards and core technologies contributed greatly to revenue creation from technology fees and to preemption of overseas markets. The LTE handset market started to emerge globally from 2010, and because Korea had an over 30% share in this market, it was able to create added value as well as jobs.

Today, new services allow users to enjoy ultra-high speed multimedia services at 100 Mbps, which is much faster than the speed of existing multimedia services. The era of convenient e-commerce is in full swing as mobile handsets are used in commercial transactions as a payment method like cash. Various recognition devices for the safety of children and the elderly are being added onto mobile phones, along with functionality to help users respond quickly in disaster relief for natural disasters. ETRI is poised to lead the future mobile communication market by taking one step ahead in addressing the challenges of the changing world.