Vodafone and Verizon Wireless are looking into coordinating future 4G network technology, allowing mobile users to easily roam across each carrier's network. Both companies are involved in Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology development and it seems that would be the most likely chosen platform.
According to a report in Reuters, Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin and Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg both told a Goldman Sachs investor conference that they were planning to use the same technology for the next overhaul of their wireless networks.
Although Vodafone owns a 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, the two use incompatible technologies; Vodafone uses GSM and has built its 3G network using HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology, while Verizon Wireless uses CDMA and has built out its 3G network using CDMA EV-DO Rev.A.
Adopting the same network technologies going forward would mean users could easily roam between networks and the two could collaborate more on ways to cut costs when it came to large scale upgrades and maintenance issues.
According to the report in Reuters, Sarin said, "It makes complete sense for us to go from HSDPA to LTE and it makes sense for Verizon to go from EV-DO to LTE." Adding that it would be several years before LTE could be deployed, however.
LTE is being designed to provide a 4G strategy for HSPA operators, but EV-DO operators could also use the technology. Though LTE has seen heavy support from many major wireless infrastructure vendors, Verizon Wireless had been expected to choose Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), a networking technology being developed by a CDMA standards group. Which technologies carriers throw their collective weight behind could have a dramatic effect on which technologies survive and which ones fall by the wayside.
Reuters also reported the two companies are evaluating the benefits of WiMAX, a technology already being deployed in the United States by Sprint Nextel.