Ericsson maintained its grip on LTE deployments in Asia Pacific, announcing its second network rollout win in the region in the space of a week.
The Swedish infrastructure vendor revealed on Wednesday it will supply the bulk of Taiwan-based FarEasTone's LTE network, including hardware, software, and support services. The contract covers nationwide rollout of a RAN and core network for 3G and 4G technologies, and network optimisation.
Jan Signell, head of Ericsson region North East Asia, said the deal builds on a previous partnership with FarEasTone covering 3G, which saw the operator run "one of the best performing networks in the world."
FarEasTone president Yvonne Li said the LTE network will offer "users an improved experience in terms of smartphone and mobile broadband usage in a very competitive market."
Ericsson information states the network will offer FarEasTone customers data rates of up to 150 Mbps in the downlink, and 50 Mbps in the uplink. Deployment of the network will be accelerated by utilising 700 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies, the statement explained.
The company's 4G Cell Broadcast System, which enables communications during disasters, is included in the FarEasTone deal.
Ericsson last week announced it is rolling out an LTE network for Thai operator dtac TriNet, a subsidiary of Thailand's second largest operator dtac. The company has deployed LTE on 2100 MHz for dtac, which is seeking to meet surging data demand from smartphone users across the country.
A glut of LTE deployments in Asia Pacific is making the region an attractive prospect for all Western infrastructure providers, which are battling stagnation in European rollouts.
So far in 2013, NSN and Ericsson have each won TD-LTE rollout deals with China Telecom and China Mobile, while Alcatel-Lucent became one of three vendors picked to deploy TD-LTE and FDD-LTE networks for China Telecom, and picked up a TD-LTE supply deal with China Mobile.
For more:
- see Ericsson's FarEasTone announcement
- see Ericsson's release on dtac TriNet
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