Network rollout to be completed in the first half of the year
Finnish vendor Nokia and Swedish mobile telephony operator 3 Sweden announced plans to deploy TD-LTE-Advanced mobile broadband technology to improve the operator’s quality of service in the European country.
3 Sweden will use spectrum in the 2600 MHz band 38 to deploy TD-LTE-Advanced technology. This spectrum band is currently used by only a few operators in Western Europe.
This deployment will allow the telco to immediately increase bandwidth and speeds for customers.
Nokia said it expects to complete the network deployment – which will include Gothenburg, Sweden’s second most populous city – in the first half of 2016.
Under the terms of the contract, the vendor is providing TD-LTE-Advanced radio technology, based on the Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, to support 2600 MHz band 38, along with WCDMA and FDD-LTE network upgrade care services, including hardware and software services
“As one of Sweden’s leading operators, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance the overall quality of our mobile voice and data services,” 3 Sweden’s CTO Jörgen Askeroth said. “We are proud to launch one of Western Europe’s first TD-LTE-A deployments on band 38 – a development that underlines our reputation as an innovation leader in the domestic telecommunications market.”
3 Sweden had launched LTE services in the local market in 2011. The telco currently provides this technology through the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands.
Vodafone Ireland expands LTE coverage nationwide
In other EMEA news, Irish mobile telco Vodafone Ireland announced the completion of its national network upgrade. With this upgrade, the operator’s 4G LTE network currently reaches 90% of the population in every county.
The network was upgraded in several counties including Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon. The company said that 4G customers can now experience “crystal clear calls” with HD voice.
Vodafone Ireland’s Consumer Director Lutfullah Kitapci said that the company’s network upgrade required an investment of 550 million euros ($627 million) over the last three years.
“This project included a complete modernization of the entire network portfolio – brand new 3G and 4G networks and refreshing the existing 2G network across the country. This completion of this project in the wider North West region means that we can now provide 4G services to customers in every county in Ireland,” he said.
