Chunghwa Telecom launches exclusive pioneering LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services

Date: 2017/02/23

To further optimize mobile internet experiences for all users, Chunghwa Telecom today launches global-pioneering LWA (LTE-WLAN Aggregation) 4G+Wi-Fi services in collaboration with HTC, MediaTek and Sercomm. In 2014, as the telecom leader in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom has kicked off 4G services. Now, by creating a comprehensive ecosystem thanks to the new LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services, Chunghwa Telecom is sure to bring about superior mobile connectivity, industrial transformation, as well as new business values!

Powerful partnership to develop comprehensive industrial chain for LWA 4G+Wi-Fi applications

Chunghwa Telecom has been the leading 4G service provider and the largest PWLAN operator in Taiwan with the highest market shares. To offer better mobile connectivity services, and to facilitate ICT industry development, Chunghwa Telecom started co-developing LWA technologies with ITRI (Industrial Research Technology Institute) and MediaTek since August, 2015. LWA function and system compatibility have been tested and verified on ITRI’s LWA R&D platform.

Chunghwa Telecom works with Taiwan’s industry leaders in smart devices, chipsets and base stations, to develop new mobile connectivity services based on the latest LWA technologies. For smart devices, HTC U Play adopts MediaTek’s octa-core processor–MediaTek Helio P10, and is the world’s first smartphone that supports 3GPP LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services. For base station, Chunghwa Telecom and Sercomm develop the new 4G small cell that supports LWA to enhance downlink throughput and increase capacity. This groundbreaking LWA 4G+Wi-Fi service is built on established Chunghwa Telecom networks. At the launch event, HTC Smartphone and Connected Devices Business President Chialin Chang, MediaTek Executive Vice President and Co-COO Jeffrey Ju, and Sercomm CEO James Wang joined together to announce and share congratulatory thoughts on this milestone for the industry.

“As the telecom leader in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom is proudly responsible for facilitating industrial development,” says Chunghwa Telecom Mobile Business Group President Yuan-Kuang Tu. “LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services and the technologies set up a new landmark for mobile communication and telecom industry in Taiwan. In addition to providing better mobile experiences to consumers, the new services also promote infrastructure upgrade from 4G to Pre 5G among local mobile communication industry. By integrating collective efforts from ICT-related fields and providing innovative services through collaboration, we believe it will generate more prosperous visions for overall industries.”

With LWA 4G+Wi-Fi business services, Chunghwa Telecom will optimize mobile connectivity experiences

At the press event, Tu demonstrates LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services, which features downlink throughput up to 400Mbps in an ideal setting. Continuous advancements in mobile connectivity, as Chunghwa Telecom believes, will benefit streaming, livestreaming and business cloud applications that require sufficient and stable bandwidth. This new service will also optimize mobile connectivity experiences for urban hotspots and indoor spaces with higher throughput and capacity.

LTE-WLAN Aggregation（LWA） is a new international mobile communication specification by 3GPP. Mobile devices with LTE and Wi-Fi capabilities can use the two air interfaces simultaneously for best transmission efficiency. LWA conceptual prototypes were demonstrated at MWC 2015, and finalized by 3GPP in June 2016. With leading insights, Chunghwa Telecom successfully collaborated with local ICT and semiconductor leaders and built a comprehensive industry chain for LWA 4G+Wi-Fi commercial applications in a short time, pushing LWA 4G+Wi-Fi into commercial operation.

According to plans, Chunghwa Telecom will officially provide LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services to consumers within this year, starting at designated Chunghwa Telecom retailing counters in Taipei area. With LWA compatible devices, consumers can enjoy unprecedented surfing experiences, which soon will expand to other venues, such as National Chiao Tung University, fast food stores or convenient stores, step by step enhancing superior mobile connectivity around Taiwan.

Note:

• Chunghwa Telecom was the first telecom operator that offered 4G services in Taiwan in May 29th, 2014.
• Downlink throughput up to 400Mbps is available in ideal conditions.
• LWA 4G+Wi-Fi service availability details will be announced later.
• HTC U Play supports 3GPP standard LWA 4G+Wi-Fi services. To enjoy best experiences, firmware upgrade before use is recommended.