Nokia today introduced its first ever Long Term Evolution (LTE) capable internet modem, which is based on Nokia's own LTE modem technology development. Started as a Nokia Research Center mobile broadband program, the Nokia Internet Modem RD-3 announced today is the end result of years of LTE research.

"We have put significant effort in LTE development within Nokia R&D since 2005", says Jussi Lemiläinen, LTE R&D owner.

LTE is the evolution of the GSM/UMTS (comprising WCDMA, HSPA) family and specifies the next generation mobile broadband access system. LTE will significantly increase both peak and average data rates, reduce costs of wireless services and improve user experience, like responsiveness.

The Nokia Internet Modem RD-3 is available to be used in LTE technology development together with various network vendors, measurement equipment manufacturers and operators.

"On the 9th of Dec 2008, we made the first LTE data transmission using an FPGA based device that included our own interpretation of the 3GPP spec. Since then, the March 2009 3GPP specification baseline has become acknowledged as the baseline to be used for commercial implementation," said Jere Paloniemi, project manager of the Nokia Internet Modem RD-3. "Today's release allows us to distribute form factor accurate devices for industry wide technology and interoperability verification. Our target is to make Nokia's LTE technology the reference for the industry."

For more information about today's announcement, please see the Nokia Press Bulletin Board article here.