Goal is to commercially launch LTE-Advanced Pro in 2017
Swiss mobile telephony operator Swisscom has successfully tested LTE-Advanced Pro, reaching a peak connection speed of 1 Gbps. The trial was carried out on its live mobile broadband network in partnership with Swedish vendor Ericsson.
The European operator said that the commercial launch of LTE-Advanced Pro is planned for early 2017.
“Swisscom is one of the most innovative mobile providers worldwide. With Europe’s very first LTE-Advanced Pro transfer of 1 Gbps live over Swisscom’s mobile broadband network, we are highlighting the innovative strength of our close and effective collaboration,” Ericsson Switzerland’s CEO Martin Bürki said.
Swisscom’s mobile broadband network currently reaches more than 98% of the population with 4G LTE and more than 99% with 3G technology. Furthermore, Swisscom has already rolled out LTE Advanced technology to more than 100 locations, with theoretical bandwidths of up to 300 Mbps. The telco is also offering rates of up to 450 Mbps in a few selected locations across the country.
Swisscom initially launched LTE services in November 2012 through spectrum in the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands. The telco also launched VoLTE technology in June 2015.
Swisscom ended 2015 with 6.62 million mobile lines in service, according to the company’s latest financial results.
CK Hutchison will not offer further concessions for EU approval for 3UK/O2 deal
In other EMEA news, Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison said it will not offer additional concessions in order to gain regulatory approval for its proposed acquisition of British mobile network operator O2 UK, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
One of the sources said that CK Hutchison is ready to go to the courts if European regulators finally block the deal. A final decision on the matter from the EU antitrust watchdog is expected by May 19.
Last week the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will not support the merger between CK Hutchison’s 3UK and O2, as it would affect competition in the domestic mobile market. In a letter to European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, the CMA argued that the U.K. requires a fourth mobile network operator in order to remain competitive.
O2 is fully owned by Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica.
