Indoor and outdoor solutions expected to boost LTE coverage and capacity
Huawei and the Spanish subsidiary of U.K.-based telecom group Vodafone launched a joint network infrastructure initiative to deploy new technologies in Madrid.
The Madrid Tech City initiative is expected to provide local residents access to an LTE-powered mobile network sporting peak data rates up to 600 megabits per second in the areas of Puerta del Sol, Plaza del Callao and Ópera, and in the future in Santa Ana Square. In addition, Retiro Park has been covered with an active antenna solution in order to extend coverage.
Further upgrades are expected to ensure 45% of the stations located along the M-30 highway have peak data rates of up to 250 Mbps. The project also stipulates the Chamartín railway station will eventually have an indoor connected solution that will improve the coverage and capacity of mobile services and offer new location-based services.
In both Santiago Bernabéu and Vicente Calderón football stadiums, new technologies are set to be implemented to improve the user experience. In the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to the Real Madrid football club, a cloud radio access network-based radio access network has been deployed to support LTE mobile connections during matches. In the Vicente Calderón stadium, 4×4 multiple-input/multiple-output antenna technology is to be deployed to improve the network capacity and maximize download speeds.
Huawei and Vodafone also are working to implement narrowband “internet of things” technologies, which are said to support access to services in the future, including intelligent parking and intelligent lighting systems as well as water, gas and electric meters.
“With this initiative, together with Huawei’s support, we want to transform Madrid into a city with intelligent services, taking advantage of the possibilities offered by new network technologies in space management,” said Diego Torrico, Vodafone Spain’s public administrations director.
Huawei is carrying out similar initiatives in another 12 cities around the world.