The fourth generation of mobile communications (4G), as a whole new generation of mobile technology, is a commanding point of global technology and industry. It is also a crucial infrastructure to enable and promote the development of Internet+.
Under the support of the national science and technology major project ‘the new generation of broadband wireless mobile communication Network’, the ‘key technologies and applications of the 4th generation of mobile communications (TD-LTE)’ project (referred as “the project” hereinafter) tackles a series of key technical problems such as TD-LTE physical layer design and smart antenna, forming the basis of TD-LTE standard. It also provided systematic solutions to the interference mitigation and network coverage problem in TDD, paving the way for large-scale deployment of TDD systems.
Moreover, this project has overcome the technical bottleneck of chip design and IC development for multimode multiband (MMMB) terminals, achieving breakthrough in all areas of the MMMB industry including network, chipset, terminal, and test equipment. In addition, the project has made breakthrough in chipset, test equipment and other weak links of China’s communications industry, making China one of the most advanced countries in communications industry. A public test and verification platform has been constructed under the project to promote and speed up the process of R&D and industrialization. The challenges faced in large-scale deployment of TDD systems have been found and conquered and a superior world-class TDD network has constructed. Because of the project, TD-LTE has been adopted all around world and a mobile technology led by our country has been adopted globally for the first time.
Furthermore, because of the persistent efforts of the project, the TD-LTE standard led by China has beaten the U.S.-led WiMAX and becomes one of the two mainstream 4G global standards, making wireless mobile communications one of the high-tech fields where our country has international competitive advantage. The project is also an important model for practicing China's "innovation strategy", and constructs an important information infrastructure for China's "Internet +" and "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" strategy.
