NTT DoCoMo Tests Super-Fast Wireless Data

Over the next month, NTT DoCoMo plans to test a Super 3G, or LTE (long-term evolution) cellular system capable of sending data at 300Mbps.

The test will take place indoors and initially send data using one antenna for the receiver and one antenna for the transmitter. Eventually the researchers will utilize up to four MIMO antennas for data transmission.

Super 3G holds the promise of allowing download speeds as fast as 300Mbps and upload speeds of 80Mbps. It uses the same radio spectrum band as current 3G services. NTT DoCoMo plans to launch a network based on the technology by 2010.

The technology could be seen as a steppingstone between current 3G technologies like W-CDMA and 1xEV-DO and 4G technologies such as UMB and WiMAX.

NTT DoCoMo is even looking past Super 3G towards those 4G technologies. In fact, late last year the carrier was successful in getting about 5Gbps data speeds to a receiver moving at about 10 kilometers per hour (6 mph).

While it may seem like such high data rates are gluttonous, in an increasingly mobile society, ultra-high speed data rates are becoming ever more necessary. For example, Super 3G allows carriers to offer IPTV and other feature-rich applications over the cellular network.