New service is offered through 1800 MHz and 800 MHz bands
The United Arab Emirates’ second-largest operator Du launched its LTE-A network through a partnership with Nokia Networks. The telco used Nokia Networks’ advanced radio platform Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, carrier aggregation software,and professional services, combining FDD-LTE bands 1800 MHz and 800 MHz.
Du said that the new LTE-A service will enable customers to have access to peak data speeds of up to 225 megabits per second.
“We timed the launch with the availability of CAT-6 smartphones in the UAE, so that our customers can immediately enjoy higher download speeds with increased throughput and coverage,” Du’s EVP for network development and operations, Saleem AlBlooshi, said.
Du commercially launched LTE services on 1800 MHz in June 2012 and also tested voice over LTE on its commercial LTE network in August 2014.
Founded in 2007, the Arab telecom operator serves more than 7.5 million individual customers and over 80,000 businesses in the UAE. Du also provides carrier services for businesses and satellite up/downlink services for TV broadcasters. Rival operator Etisalat currently has nearly 11.4 million mobile subscribers.
Also in the Middle East, mobile operator Zain Saudi Arabia and Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei have launched an LTE-A network that aggregates frequencies in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands.
“As market trends continue to move toward high-speed mobile data and video communication along with the proliferation of social applications, bringing unprecedented challenges to mobile broadband networks. We recognize LTE-A technology as the way of future connectivity,” said Zain Saudi Arabia CEO Hassan Kabbani.
Zain initially launched LTE services in Saudi Arabia in 2011, and had 10.6 million mobile subscribers in the country by the end of the first quarter.
More telecom news from Europe, the Middle East and Africa:
• French group Bouygues Telecom’s board rejected an unsolicited offer by Altice-owned compatriot telecommunications operator Numericable-SFR, which had offered to buy the company for approximately $11.4 billion in cash, according to previous reports.
“The Board considers that the offer presents a significant execution risk, which should not be borne by Bouygues, particularly in terms of competition law in both the fixed and mobile markets,” Bouygues said in a statement.
• Africa is leading the way in the mobile money transfer and remittance market, according to a recent study by Juniper Research.
The study pointed out that several African mobile operators such as Vodacom Tanzania and MTN Uganda are currently generating more than 10% of their revenue from mobile money. According to the research, recent surges in both transaction volumes and values are being driven by increased implementation of cross-border and international remittance interoperability.
