Looking to offer broadband Internet on cellular mobile devices, Digicel tapped Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to deploy an Evolved HSPA network in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
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Under the agreement, Digicel Trinidad and Tabago, which has 750,000 customers, will use Ericsson’s latest RBS 6000 multi-standard radio base stations. Ericsson will also supply a range of professional services such as network design, consulting systems integration, network deployment and customer support.
Up until now, Digicel only had GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks, operating on 850/1900MHz. The project was actually completed earlier this year, and since May the carrier’s customers can experience speeds up to a maximum 21 Mbps, although it will vary depending on several factors, including network traffic, device type and location.
According to Ericsson, Digicel is the first operator to launch Evolved HSPA commercially in Trinidad and Tobago.
At the end of March 2012, Latin America and the Caribbean had 88 million HSPA mobile broadband connections, representing an annualized growth of 80%, according to 4G Americas, an industry trade organization . Also, as 4G Americas has stated, there are six LTE commercial networks in four Latin America countries, while there are 41 HSPA+ networks in 22 countries worldwide.
