Verizon plans LTE roll-out

Verizon Wireless has released details on its planned long-term evolution (LTE) wireless broadband network, reports Computing.co.uk.

The company says recent trials in Boston and Seattle suggested the network could reach download speeds of up to 50Mbps and upload speeds of nearly 25Mbps.

In addition to the results of the test, the company also provided a timetable for roll-out of a nation-wide wireless broadband network. The company says the new network could reach up to 100 million people throughout the US, and provide speeds comparable to cable-based broadband services.

WiMax is taking another hit as major supplier Cisco confirms it is quitting the WiMax radio access network business and will cease making WiMax base stations, writes InformationWeek.

However, the networking company says it will continue supplying IP core and WiMax edge products like WiFi and femtocells to WiMax customers.

The decision gives a boost to Cisco's LTE portfolio, which was strengthened in recent months by Cisco's acquisition of Starent Networks.

Netgear has unveiled two HomePlug AV-certified Powerline kits, including the Powerline AV 500 Adapter Kit and the Powerline AV+ 500 Adapter Kit, states CNET News.

Powerline networking kits allow users to expand their local network via the electrical wiring, without having to run a network cable to a far corner of the house. This is especially helpful when the corner is so far away or obscure that the wireless signal can't get to it.

Netgear claims both kits offer speeds of up to 500Mbps. To put this in perspective, wired connections have speeds of 100Mbps (for Ethernet) or 1 000Mbps (for Gigabit Ethernet). This is about 2.5 times the speed of the previous generation of HomePlug AV products, such as the PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter Kit PLK300 from Linksys.