Even as 3G-connectivity takes its first tentative steps in India, thetworld ,is already lo(}king ahead to the next generation of connectivity-4G. LG Electronics claims to have developed the first handset modem chip based on 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology standards.

The modem chip can theoretically support wireless download speeds of 100 MBps and upload speeds of 50MBps. The company feels that this represents a significant step towards creating a market-ready 4G phone, as the modem chip is the most crucial component required to create a viable 4G handset with L TE technology, which is the leading candidate to become the fourth generation mobile phone technology standard.

LG demonstrated the chip at its Mobile Communication Technology Research Lab in Anyang, Korea, achieving wireless download speeds of 60 MBps and upload speeds of 20 MBps. The fastest phones currently on the market use HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology and download at a maximum speed of7.6 MBps. With LTE technology, users can download a 700 MB movie file in less than one minute at speeds of 100 MBps.

Mobile phone carriers have now built L TE test networks and are currently working on early stage handsets. The first L TE mobile phones are expected to alTive in the market by 20 10.