Wireless Networks

MTS launches 4G services in Moscow

Russia’s largest operator has launched ultra-fast 4G mobile broadband services offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps in most of Moscow and 40 population centres in Moscow regions...

Russia’s largest operator has launched ultra-fast 4G mobile broadband services offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps in most of Moscow and 40 population centres in Moscow regions. MTS aims for its network to cover 96% of the Russian capital by the end of 2012.

The TD-LTE network was provided by Nokia Siemens Networks, which has integrated its Single Radio Access Network (RAN) and Liquid Core based Evolved Packet Core (EPC) into the network as part of the agreement.

“Our LTE network's high data throughput and superior reliability enable our customers to benefit from high quality multimedia applications with faster network access,” said Konstantin Markov, head of MTS macro-region, Moscow. “We also plan to double the coverage in Moscow provinces from the current level of coverage in 40 towns”, he added.

Vladimir Ulianov, head of MTS customer team at Nokia Siemens Networks, said: “Our radio and core network elements have built a reliable and flexible network to fulfil current and future data traffic demands driven by the drastically increasing use of smartphones.”

MTS obtained the LTE spectrum – which is in the 2595-2620MHz band – in February, but the operator is thought to be part of a consortium of operators aiming to launch a shared FDD-LTE network in an effort to save money on infrastructure build-out. The alliance, whose members also include Yota, MegaFon, VimpelCom and Rostelecom, aims to provide LTE coverage to 180 Russian cities by 2014.

However, as other members of the consortium are believed to be planning their own networks, the proposed shared network may be abandoned. Using Yota’s LTE spectrum, MegaFon has launched LTE services in four cities – Krasnodar, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Sochi – and aims to double this number by the end of 2012.

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