Vodafone New Zealand has selected Nokia Networks to enable the launch of its commercial 700 MHz LTE network in the country. Together with Nokia Networks, Vodafone New Zealand will deploy LTE coverage on the APT 700 MHz digital dividend spectrum band for high-quality indoor and extended rural area coverage for 4G-enabled devices.

To support the launch, Vodafone will augment Nokia Networks’ compact and scalable Single RAN-Advanced Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Stations with the latest 6-pipe RF module for APT 700 MHz to deliver Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) on up to 3 sectors using a single unit. This compact solution shares processing hardware with the existing network equipment to deliver an efficient, cost-effective platform that is ready to support LTE-A carrier aggregation on the 700 MHz band.

Additionally, company will provide network planning and optimization services to ensure best performance of the new spectrum and seamless interworking of mobile broadband services across the various radio technologies (2G/3G/LTE) and frequency bands in Vodafone New Zealand’s network. The two companies recently joined forces to introduce small cells in the country and continue to work together to transform New Zealand’s telecommunications landscape.