COTA, a Spanish telecom provider has completed the 4G mobile broadband pilot with TD-LTE technology in Murcia, Spain using Nokia Siemens Networks' solution, ahead of a November launch for commercial services. The operator, working with Wimax Online, selected Nokia Siemens Networks as supplier for a customer-focused end-to-end LTE service and plans to launch commercial mobile broadband Internet access service by the end of the year.

COTA acquired 10 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band auction in the summer of 2011 and immediately began to plan for a service launch. Wimax Online will benefit from the wholesale LTE access provided by COTA. In addition to extending the existing service portfolio with broadband offering, they will provide DSL-like services in the Murcia region where it is currently not possible to provide fixed-internet connectivity and VoIP. COTA also plans to provide television services through an IPTV-platform in the future.

According to company, the implementation, in the autonomous “Región de Murcia”, is Southern Europe’s first TD-LTE, 2.6 GHz network.

The end-to-end TD-LTE service is based on Nokia Siemens Networks’ Flexi Multiradio Base Station technology together with existing TD-LTE customer premises equipment (similar to WiFi routers), the CPE indoor 7212 and CPE outdoor 7210. In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks’ partner Athonet provided core network components for COTA. The agreement also included Nokia Siemens Networks’ professional services.