Mobile network vendor Huawei recently announced its LTE 450MHz network deal with Ukkoverkot, a telecom service provider in Finland.
Huawei said this is the world’s first commercial LTE 450MHz network.
The Chinese telecom equipment vendor will supply network solution, including base stations and devices, to ensure the migration from CDMA 450MHz to LTE 450MHz for Ukkoverkot network customers in Finland.
Ukkoverkot aims to provide nationwide coverage of LTE 450MHz by the end of 2014, and to offer the fastest speed LTE services in Finland.
The Finnish telecoms is trying to address frequency resource shortage challenges by offering 450MHz as a new LTE band in Finland.
“Deploying disruptive technology like LTE 450MHz is a good technology strategy. It gives us high capacity and new value for the 450MHz band in mobile data use. In addition, the coverage properties are impressive, with countrywide network across the whole of Finland (~340 000 km²) achieved with only few hundred sites,” said Antti Pellinen, CEO, Ukkoverkot.
Huawei in a statement said one 450MHz base station can cover twice the footprint of an 800MHz base station and up to 20 times the footprint of a single 2.6GHz node. This reduces network investment dramatically and shortens service launch time, making LTE 450MHz the best choice for universal wireless broadband.
Huawei is supporting Ukkoverkot by reusing legacy network resources like base stations, sites, power supplies and antennas to decrease the network development investments.
Zou Yong, vice president of Huawei LTE Wireless Network, said: “Huawei, together with industry partners, made 450MHz the standard of the 3GPP LTE band and established the LTE 450MHz Industry Alliance last year. We recently unveiled the LTE 450MHz chipset that is available on customer-premises equipment and MiFi devices.”
By the end of the first quarter of 2014, Huawei won more than 290 LTE network contracts and enabled commercial LTE networks for more than 126 operators worldwide.
