Now Broadband expands fixed TD-LTE service

UK Broadband expanded its now Broadband-branded fixed TD-LTE service to areas of Southwark and Reading. The service, which was first switched on commercially in February 2012, is already available in the UK cities of London, Reading, Swindon and Scunthorpe.

The service uses 3.5 GHz spectrum with network infrastructure supplied by Huawei, noted cellular-news.

Now Broadband is positioning LTE as a competitive alternative to fixed-line broadband services and is marketing it for both businesses as well as residents. The company is offering four packages for home and business needs--from light browsing and email to advanced packages suitable for on demand services such as TV, gaming and business applications.

"In terms of business benefits, this service can be either the primary superfast internet connection or provide the secondary or resilient connection to ensure that local businesses and organizations are connected at all times," said Nicholas James CEO at now Broadband.

While now Broadband tries to make a stand in TD-LTE, the FDD flavor of LTE is also gaining traction in the United Kingdom. EE expected to become the first mobile operator to launch FDD-LTE when it introduces service using its 1800 MHz spectrum before year's end.

The UK's other mobile operators will not launch LTE until they can acquire 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequencies at a pending auction. Under a recent agreement brokered between those operators and UK regulator Ofcom, Vodafone, Telefonica's O2 UK and 3 UK will be able to purchase spectrum at auction in early 2013 and launch LTE service in the first half of next year, six months earlier than expected

For more:
- see this UK Broadband release
- see this cellular-news  article

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