Japanese operator Softbank Mobile has unveiled Ericsson as its second LTE network supplier, just a day after Nokia Siemens revealed it is also supplying 4G kit to the carrier.
The deal is Ericsson’s largest 4G contract in Japan and covers construction of a new LTE network in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, which combined account for 70% of the country’s total data and voice traffic. Softbank Mobile has also commissioned the vendor to upgrade its packet core network by deploying an Evolved Packet Core and handling systems integration.
Jan Signell, president of Ericsson Japan, says the 4G network is necessary to cope with a raft of new LTE-enabled smartphones, notebooks and tablets that are poised to launch in 2012. “This will lead to a strong increase in consumer demand for higher data speeds and throughput,” he notes, adding that he is proud his firm won the contract for Softbank Mobile’s “most dense service areas, where the consumers are most demanding.”
Softbank Mobile announced a similar deal with Nokia Siemens on Monday, as it gears towards launching commercial 4G services in the autumn.