- The Single RAN concept combines 2G, 3G and LTE in one universal solution
- The technology is now being tested in Teplice and will be installed on 350 transmitters by the end of the year
- Single RAN will speed up the LTE rollout in some areas by up to eighteen months
T-Mobile has deployed the Single RAN concept, which combines 2G, 3G and LTE in one universal solution, on its transmitters covering the town of Teplice. The operator will gradually install Single RAN on its new LTE transmitters and will also replace the existing 3G technology with the new solution. Single RAN will simplify the radio network architecture and facilitate the rollout of LTE using the 2100 MHz band also in areas covered with the 3G network. By the end of 2015, LTE will be deployed in some of the areas where the fastest mobile-internet signal was originally scheduled to be available as late as in 2016-2017.
“Over three years, we will completely replace the existing 3G technology with the new Single RAN concept on our transmitters,” says Vladimír Klein, Technology Director at T-Mobile, adding: “This will allow us to accelerate the introduction of LTE coverage in areas covered today with the 3G signal and also to offer additional capacity and faster data transmission to our customers.”
Until now, newer generations of the operator’s mobile radio networks have always been built independently of the older networks. Single RAN, however, connects the currently separate 2G, 3G and LTE technologies in one solution, which simplifies the radio network architecture and reduces the space required on the sites. In future, this solution will facilitate an easier transfer of customers from 3G to LTE and will enable the subsequent complete discontinuation of 3G technology in the estimated time horizon of approx. five years. This will bring an additional increase of capacity and maximum transmission speeds in LTE 2100 to as high as 150/50 Mbps.
Another great benefit is the fact that, in addition to 3G, the new hardware can also be used for LTE in the 2100 MHz band, which is supported by the vast majority of LTE-enabled handsets in T-Mobile’s portfolio. This year, the new concept will be installed on approx. 350 transmitters, with half of them providing new coverage. LTE technology will thus be available this year to 5% more of the population of the Czech Republic up to 18 months ahead of its scheduled availability. The newly covered areas include, for example, the towns of Chomutov, Kadaň, Klášterec nad Ohří, Jirkov, Most, Litvínov, Teplice, Neratovice, Jablonec nad Nisou, Semily, Trutnov, Náchod, Broumov, Dvůr Králové nad Labem and Vrchlabí, as well as the Harrachov and Špindlerův Mlýn ski resorts.
The LTE rollout in the 800 MHz band will continue according to plan. By the end of the year, the operator will cover, among other communities, all regional capitals, motorways and expressways (D1, D2, D3, D5, D8, D11, R10 and R4) and large ski resorts.