Telefonica’s O2 operations in the United Kingdom unveiled plans for a LTE trial to begin this month across London. The nine-month trial will include more than 25 cell sites covering 40 square kilometers (about 15.4 square miles) using 2.6 GHz spectrum under a “test and development” license from the country’s Ofcom regulator.
The trial network will use equipment supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks for both the radio and core network elements; and backhaul using microwave radio equipment from Cambridge Broadband Networks, NEC and NSN. O2 claims the trial, which will use 20 megahertz of spectrum, will provide speeds of up to 150 megabits per second.
The U.K. government is expected to auction spectrum in the 2.6 GHz spectrum band for LTE services next year. Carriers are expected to use the 2.6 GHz spectrum for coverage in urban areas, with plans to refarm existing spectrum holdings in the 900/1800 MHz band to provide broader coverage.
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