Swisscom claims upgrades to its domestic 4G network have increased the data rates available to consumers by 50-Mbps.
The operator states the maximum data rate on offer is now 150-Mbps, however the increased speed will only be available to customers of Swisscom’s premium Natel infinity XL package who have a compatible device, both of which are due to launch June 1. The firm also plans to open 4G services up to prepaid subscribers from July 1.
“[W]e are substantially increasing our data transmission speed once again,” says Urs Schaeppi, head of Swisscom Switzerland.
The telco is currently the only provider of commercial 4G services in Switzerland, with a network covering 50% of the population. It plans to reach 70% by the end of the year, as part of a 1.5 billion Swiss francs (€1.1 billion) network modernization project that runs through 2017.
Swisscom also revealed that one in two smartphones it sells are 4G capable, and that it currently has 400,000 users with compatible smartphones or modems.
The Swiss incumbent is not alone in offering consumers the carrot of even faster 4G data rates. UK carrier EE last month detailed plans to increase the bandwidth allocated to the network to 20-MHz, which it claims lifts peak data rates to 80-Mbps.