The Taiwanese operator targets market share of 40% in the local LTE market; new emphasis on small cells
Ericsson has signed a contract with Taiwan’s largest mobile operator, Chunghwa Telecom, to deploy additional LTE infrastructure designed to enable the operator to expand its current LTE coverage and capacity.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ericsson will continue to serve as sole supplier for the entire core network, including a multi-access evolved packet core, and as a major supplier for radio access network equipment in Taiwan’s most populated areas, including Taipei.
The contract also stipulates the deployment of Ericsson small cells, which will enable the telco to provide LTE coverage in areas where existing coverage is insufficient or challenged due to interference from buildings, geography or distance from a mobile tower.
“The rapid growth of 4G subscriptions has exceeded our expectations. We see a huge data demand, and shifting consumer behavior to more data-centric services,” said Lin Kuo-Feng, President of Chunghwa Telecom Mobile Business Group.
“Chunghwa Telecom’s 4G strategy is to keep [the No. 1] position by subscriber number and to reach a 40% market share of total 4G subscriber base in Taiwan. For meeting this target, the company will continue to increase its 4G coverage and backhaul capacity in 2015,” said Andy Ye, senior market analyst at IDC Taiwan, in an interview with RCR Wireless News.
In partnership with Ericsson, Chunghwa Telecom is looking to reach 4 million LTE subscribers by the end of the year, according to previous reports.
Chunghwa Telecom provides LTE services using 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum bands, while rival operators Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone are offering LTE utilizing the 700 MHz spectrum band. Taiwan’s National Communications Commission is planning to award additional LTE spectrum in the 2.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands during the last quarter of 2015. This new spectrum is set to allow local carriers to launch TD-LTE and FDD-LTE services next year.
“Chunghwa Telecom will seek to obtain additional 4G LTE spectrum in the upcoming auction. As 4G spectrum bandwidth is a critical factor which influences 4G service quality, hence all 4G operators will try to get more 4G spectrum in this bidding,” Ye said.
India’s Bharti Airtel selects Nokia Networks for 3G deployment
India telecom operator Bharti Airtel signed an agreement with Nokia Networks to roll out 3G services in five new telecom circles and to expand telecoms infrastructure in three existing telecom circles. Under the four-year contract, Nokia Networks will provide its radio elements and services expertise.
In India, Bharti Airtel’s product offerings include 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services, m-commerce, fixed line services, high-speed broadband, IPTV, DTH and enterprise services.
