LG and Nortel have demonstrated what they claim is the world’s first 3GPP-compliant active handover of a data transmission between LTE and CDMA networks, reports Cellular News. The breakthrough will potentially pave the way for CDMA operators – most significantly those in North America – to upgrade to LTE networks while maintaining a seamless service for users. The handover between CDMA and LTE networks was completed in a live-air environment at Nortel’s Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, Canada. “The 2010 LTE commercial launch for CDMA operators represents a milestone,” said Kim In-kyung, vice-president of 4G development at LG’s mobile R&D centre. “LG’s new M13 terminal is the result of successful collaboration with Verizon Wireless and Qualcomm. The technology is the key to enabling CDMA network operators an incremental LTE network deployment over a national CDMA network.”

According to a separate Korea Times report, analysts say the successful trial will help the North America-based CDMA camp jump to LTE mobile networks. “The CDMA camp suffers from a lack of alternative wireless technology for the preparation of fourth-generation,” Prudential Investment said. “For CDMA players, shifting to Europe-based LTE technology requires huge investment. LG’s handover technology will accelerate the efforts by the CDMA camp toward LTE-based 4G mobile technology.” US mobile operator Verizon Wireless – a CDMA operator – is expected to be one of the first in the world to migrate to LTE.