Communications services provider Batelco and Huawei have successfully showcased LTE technology at Batelco`s Hamala Headquarters on March 22nd. During the trial speeds of 150Mbps were achieved.
Lithuanian operators Tele2, Omnitel and Bite have been awarded a mobile license in Lithuania in the 2.6 GHz frequency band by Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA). This frequency is specifically suited for next generation mobile broadband (LTE).
Hrvatski Telekom launched commercial LTE-based 4G network in Croatia. The first LTE base stations are located in Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek and Split. The plan is to expand the LTE network coverage to other urban areas in Croatia in the upcoming period as well.
Japan’s mobile operator NTT DOCOMO has announced that subscribers to its Xi LTE mobile service surpassed two million on March 18. Xi launched on December 24, 2010 and reached one million subscribers one year later on December 25, 2011.
Australian operator Telstra has announced 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi set for its customers to provide high speed mobile internet access for Wi-Fi enabled laptops, tablets and smartphones. The battery-powered Telstra Mobile Wi-Fi 4G is now available to business customers and the BigPond Mobile Wi-Fi 4G will be launched for personal use next Tuesday 27 March.
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to upgrade its nationwide GSM and 3G networks and expand its commercial 4G TD-LTE network. According to company, Nokia Siemens Networks is now responsible for building one-third of STC’s nationwide 4G network.
Sprint has elected to exercise its right to terminate the agreement signed in June 2011 with LightSquared. Per the agreement, Sprint agreed to deploy and operate an LTE network capable of utilizing the 1.6 GHz spectrum licensed to or available to LightSquared.
Deutsche Telekom, Alcatel-Lucent and Airbus have successfully tested direct data communication using LTE technology, between an aircraft and a wireless network on the ground. When commercial, this solution will be able to provide in-flight mobile voice and broadband data communications services cost-effectively.
Verizon Wireless will launch LTE service in seven new markets and expand in 17 markets across the United States on March 15. With this, its 4G LTE network will cover 203 markets. Verizon Wireless plans to more than double the number of its 4G LTE markets, bringing the total markets to more than 400, by the end of the year.
US carrier Cricket Communications has inked a five-year wholesale agreement with Clearwire. With the agreement, Cricket will become the second operator signed on to leverage Clearwire's forthcoming LTE Advanced-ready network, which will provide capacity off-load services to supplement Cricket's own LTE network.