Finland-based mobile service provider Ukkoverkot has tied up with ICT solutions provider Huawei to deploy the world’s first commercial LTE 450MHz network in Finland.
Under the partnership, Huawei will provide an end-to-end network solution, including base stations and devices, to ensure the migration from CDMA 450MHz to LTE 450MHz for Ukkoverkot network customers in Finland and Ukkoverkot will provide nationwide coverage of LTE 450MHz by the end of 2014, and to offer the fastest speed LTE services in Finland.
“Ukkoverkot is clearly in challenger position in the Finnish mobile market landscape, especially from a frequency resources point of view. Deploying disruptive technology like LTE 450MHz is a good technology strategy
It gives us high capacity and new value for the 450MHz band in mobile data use. In addition, the coverage properties are truly impressive, with countrywide network across the whole of Finland (~340 000 km²) successfully achieved with
only few hundred sites,” said Antti Pellinen, CEO, Ukkoverkot.
One 450MHz base station can cover twice the footprint of an 800MHz base station and up to 20 times the footprint of a single 2.6GHz node. This reduces network investment dramatically and shortens service launch time, making LTE 450MHz the best choice for universal wireless broadband.
As a strategic partner of Ukkoverkot, Huawei also reuses legacy network resources like base stations, sites, power supplies and antennas, which help to further decrease the network development investments. When the network upgrade is finished, the new 450MHz Ukkoverkot LTE network will be the world’s first nationwide LTE network of its kind, a statement said.
Zou Yong, vice president of Huawei LTE Wireless Network, said: “Huawei continues to contribute to the industry development of LTE 450MHz standards. The partnership with Ukkoverkot to deploy LTE 450MHz is another important step and, we look forward to cooperating with many more operators to deploy LTE 450MHz commercial networks and bring universal broadband to more people and ubiquitous connection for M2M or things to things.”