LTE unlicensed and Wi-Fi:moving beyond coexistence

LTE unlicensed and Wi-Fi: moving beyond coexistence

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Unlicensed spectrum is hugely valuable, and mobile operators are increasingly eager to leverage it. They started with Wi-Fi offload, and now they are moving to LTE unlicensed and new ways to integrate Wi-Fi in their networks (carrier Wi-Fi, LWA).
This Senza Fili report, “LTE unlicensed and Wi-Fi: moving beyond coexistence” explores the opportunities that LTE unlicensed offers to mobile operators and how the technology can moving into the 5 GHz band where Wi-Fi dominates and has been an astounding success.

Is the performance – and business case – of LTE unlicensed sufficiently better that mobile operators will be willing to roll out LTE unlicensed even though it will require new mobile devices? And what will the 5 GHz ecosystem, dominated by Wi-Fi users, enterprise, and service providers, will accept as fair coexistence from the LTE unlicensed proponents?
The report presents an overview of LTE unlicensed and how it can coexist with Wi-Fi. We discuss central issues such as performance, standardization, business models, and deployment costs. The debate on LTE unlicensed is a heated one in which parties have often taken antagonistic views. In the interviews in this report, we have tried to present multiple perspectives from players deeply involved in the Wi-Fi and LTE ecosystems, and discuss how to best develop a coexistence regimen for LTE unlicensed that expands the overall use of the unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band and benefits all the stakeholders.

Interviews included in the report

Alcatel-Lucent
InterDigital
Qualcomm Technologies
Ruckus Wireless
Tele2
Wi-Fi Alliance
XCellAir

Topics covered

Growing value and usage of unlicensed spectrum
Two versions of LTE unlicensed: LTE-U and LAA-LTE
The commitment to fair coexistence
LTE unlicensed strengths
Wi Fi strengths
LTE unlicensed or Wi Fi?
Listen before talk does not come for free
LTE and Wi-Fi aggregation (LWA) as an alternative
Business case

Table of contents

Introduction. Why LTE unlicensed?
Terminology. LTE unlicensed, LTE-U, LAA-LTE and more
LTE unlicensed integration with LTE licensed. A special case of carrier aggregation
The 5 GHz unlicensed band. What’s so special about it?
Why do we need listen before talk (LBT)? Fair coexistence is a requirement for success, not an option
LTE-U, ahead of inclusion of LBT in 3GPP standards. The solution for operators ready to deploy
The LAA-LTE standardization process in 3GPP. Enshrining fairness in the standards
Wi-Fi or LTE unlicensed in small-cell deployments? A look at the tradeoffs
Quantifying the LTE unlicensed performance benefits. The challenges in generalizing simulation and trial results
One step further with LWA. Alternative or complement?
Is LTE unlicensed worth the investment? A look at the business case