Consumers in Spain are a step closer to enjoying 4G services based on China’s version of the technology.
Nokia Siemens Networks has completed testing of TD-LTE in the 2.6-GHz band in conjunction with carrier the Consortium of Advanced Telecommunications (COTA) and Wimax Online. The trial is paving the way for the launch of commercial services by COTA in the Murcia region of Spain, which is scheduled to take place next month.
The infrastructure vendor claims the service will be the first based on China’s homegrown flavor of LTE in Southern Europe, and also one of the earliest 4G networks in that area. “We put our focus and attention in building flexible Single RAN capacity to meet the growing demand for broadband services in the region of Murcia,” says Miguel Araujo, Nokia Siemens’ head of customer teams for Spain and Portugal.
COTA plans to offer wholesale access to Wimax Online once the network is up and running. The access will be used to offer mobile broadband in parts of the Murcia region where fixed-line services cannot be supplied. COTA will also offer IPTV services via the network.