Tele2 Netherlands, the Dutch MVNO, has built a trial LTE network in Diemen and Amsterdam prior to a full-scale launch of the service. The company, which recently acquired 2.6GHz spectrum following an auction, said that it expected this new network to achieve speeds 16 times higher than those on current 3G networks.
According to Tele2 Netherlands (formerly Versatel Telecom International), it also expects LTE to provide a much improved platform for online gaming and video calling due to better latency--claimed to be 6x less than for existing 3G networks.
Commenting on the timescales for a commercial launch of LTE, Henrik Ringmar, CEO of Tele2 Netherlands, said that there must be better clarity over the distribution of 800MHz, 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum before it could put together a mobile strategy for the coming years.
Vodafone recently announced it would be the first operator in the Netherlands to upgrade its 3G network to support 28.8Mbps download speeds.
Elsewhere, Orange has conducted a 2-day public demonstration of LTE in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. The company worked with the local regulator, Alcatel-Lucent and Orange Labs to put together the demonstration, although no details were given about future technology trials.
Orange has used its Moldovan subsidiary to test and trial technology before conducting more extensive pilots in larger European countries.
For more on this story:
- read Going LTE
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