Orange and Ericsson have successfully used 3.5 GHz frequencies to test data speeds, coverage and FDD carrier aggregation in the world's first LTE-A FDD trial on Orange’s network in Bordeaux using Ericsson’s pre-commercial equipment. The first phase of the trial was performed at the Orange Labs in Paris, achieving 300 Mbps speeds using the 3.5 GHz band in aggregation with the 2.6 GHz band. The second phase was carried out in Bordeaux. A peak performance of 150 Mbps at a distance of up to 700 meters was achieved in the 3.5 GHz band when used alone, and speeds of 300 Mbps was attained when used in aggregation with the 2.6 GHz band.
This project has provided an opportunity to gather essential experience on the ways future multi-frequency networks could be optimized from cost and performance perspectives. One of the most rewarding results of the trial is the confirmation that the existing network grid can be reused for a 3.5 GHz macro grid. In Bordeaux, the trials used the same grid as for the 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands.
