SINGAPORE, 26 NOVEMBER 2009 - Hong Kong mobile operator CSL has unveiled a state-of-the-art CSL Technology Centre in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
This centre will facilitate Asia’s first commercial 4G or long term evolution (LTE) trials and help further development of telecommunications in Hong Kong. CSL is very active in the region and rolled out UMTS HSPA+ in the 900 MHz band earlier this year.
CSL claims this was the first case of spectrum re-farming in Hong Kong and at that time it signed a strategic deal with network partner ZTE to design an LTE commercial trial network within CSL’s Next G. This contract was signed in September 2009 and back then both partners demonstrated LTE live in Hong Kong. They were successful in demonstrating speeds up to 127 Mbps during the event.
Bring LTE to Hong Kong
LTE is described as the move towards the 4th generation of radio technologies that can increase the capacity and speed of mobile telephone networks. The mobile operator has set up this new technology centre to help develop LTE.
CSL will also be hosting a full LTE lab including core and radio equipment and aims to be the home of Asia’s first commercially deployed trial LTE cell site. The company believes these efforts will help it lay a solid foundation to push the commercial trial network further into the market.
LTE will help CSL to gradually enhance its existing network and cope with the increased demand for bandwidth and coverage that customers will need in the years to come, noted CSL chief executive officer, Tarek Robbiati, who believes this initiative will increase the operator’s popularity among customers.
Better broadband experience
LTE will be commercially available in 2010-11 and according to Robbiati, it will enhance mobile broadband experience for users. Customers can look forward to using more performance-demanding applications such as interactive TV in the months ahead.
CSL has already completed its Next G network integration and swapped out its legacy network to an All IP network based on Software Definable Radios. Christian Daigneault, CSL chief technology officer, said this will allow an easy roll out of LTE in the future. Rollout of UMTS and HSPA+ 900Mhz technology has begun and it will be completed by early 2010.
“As Next G is an integrated, All-IP multi-mode network and we have wide spectrum bands which can be refarmed, CSL is now LTE-ready. We have been working closely with our network partner ZTE in the development of LTE technology in Hong Kong,” said Daigneault. “We have also been working closely with our handset suppliers and partners to capitalise on the Next G opportunity and to deliver a unique Next G experience to our customers with innovative UMTS 900, and soon, LTE devices.”
