==Background description==
LTE (Long Term Evolution), is the latest standard in the mobile network technology that came into existence because of the growing needs of faster data rates. It is a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which realized this technology. LTE is an advancement to previously realized technologies such as GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSxPA etc.Although LTE is often marketed as 4G, first-release LTE is actually a 3.9G technology since it does not fully comply with the IMT Advanced 4G requirements.
Update - LTE-Advanced has been granted 4G compliance given the significant improvement they provide over 3G technologies [http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/48.aspx]
[[Image:lte-evolve.jpg|centre|500px|thumb|[http://www.4gamericas.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page§ionid=249 '''LTE Evolution''' ]]]
Voice traffic will be supported mainly as Voice over IP (VoIP) enabling better integration with other multimedia services.LTE is being designed to be a high data rate and low latency system. LTE is also aimed at minimizing cost and power consumption while ensuring backward-compatibility and a cost effective migration from UMTS systems.
[http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/lte-long-term-evolution/3g-lte-basics.php LTE tutorial]