By Telecom Lead Team: Mobile operator Hi3G Sweden has
extended its agreement with ZTE to build the first LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode
network.
For the contract extension, ZTE will deliver the SDR-based infrastructure
equipment to upgrade the operator’s 3G network in Sweden.
ZTE has already delivered and installed the first stage
of the network since it was first announced in March 2011. This was the world’s
first commercial network of green dual-mode LTE base stations.
The Hi3G network delivers a mix of FDD-LTE 800MHz and UMTS
900MHz services across Sweden, with both FDD and TDD-LTE 2600 spectrum also
being used in high demand areas including the major cities of Stockholm,
Gothenburg and Malmo.
This extended network will enhance the network performance of Hi3G and help Hi3G
to reach a larger capacity of subscribers with more and better services. The
network roll out enables Hi3G to significantly reduce its total cost of
ownership by adopting green energy-saving base stations.
As Hi3G improves its competitiveness, more and more
affordable and easy advanced services will be available to Hi3G subscribers.
TDD-LTE gives us great capability to provide the best
possible network capacity where demand is high, but we also have FDD-LTE
because we believe that not all devices will support TDD in the future, and of
course we have to support all users. Through a very extensive procurement
process we selected ZTE as the vendor for this next stage of our roll-out. We
have very high requirements on the availability of both technology and support
for the roll-out, and ZTE fulfills our requirements,” said Jörgen Askeroth, CTO
of Hi3G.
This is an extension partnership between the two parties
following the previous agreement signed in March 2011.The extended partnership
demonstrates that ZTE and Hi3G have achieved a good understanding of each
other’s requirements, building on our cooperation to better serve Hi3G
customers, and establishing a good basis for future network development. This agreement
further strengthens both our companies’ positions in LTE in Europe,” said
Zhu Jinyun, president of ZTE Europe and America.
ZTE has worked on more than 30 commercial LTE projects with over 100 operators
around the globe, including high-end markets including Spain, the United States
and Hong Kong, with established operators such as Telenor, CSL (in the Telstra
Group), Etisalat, SingTel, Commnet Wireless/NTUA and China Mobile.
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