Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/23386-alcatel-lucent-wins-breakthrough-4g-lte-contract-in-scandinavia

Alcatel-Lucent wins breakthrough 4G LTE contract in Scandinavia

November 17, 2014

Alcatel-Lucent is set to deploy 4G LTE and IP networking solutions throughout Scandinavia for AINMT Holdings AB. The company will initially roll-out a complete mobile broadband access network – one of the first in the 450 MHz spectrum band – for ice.net in Norway and Net 1 in Sweden and Denmark to enhance services for customers.

AINMT is one of the fastest growing mobile broadband operators in Scandinavia. It currently serves broadband connectivity to consumers, as well as providing mission-critical communications to customers such as police, ambulances, coast guard and the Red Cross. The new 4G LTE network will allow AINMT and its subsidiaries to meet the growing demand for high-speed, high-capacity data services in the region.

The network will be rolled out across Norway during 2015 as Alcatel-Lucent replaces a competitors’ existing CDMA network with its 4G LTE solution. The company will also conduct trials of high-quality Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services with ice.net in order to prepare for market launch.

Initially Alcatel-Lucent will work with AINMT Holdings to roll-out one of the first LTE networks to operate in the 450 MHz band in Norway for AINMT’s subsidiary ice.net. Services will later be expanded to the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands in the country.

The company will deploy a comprehensive 4G LTE network using products and solutions to deliver and manage high-quality, high-speed broadband access to customers in Norway. These will include the company’s: LTE Radio Access Network (RAN), Evolved Packet Core solution and IMS with VoLTE. It will provide solutions from its Motive portfolio, including operation support system (OSS) services such as installation, commissioning, network planning and maintenance. Beside the launch of services in Norway, Alcatel-Lucent will work with AINMT Holdings to roll-out LTE networks across Denmark and Sweden.

JD Fouchard, CEO of AINMT Holdings said: “The roll-out of LTE will further strengthen our proposition. We already offer the most comprehensive coverage and now the aim is to be able to enhance speed and capacity and launch mobile broadband services with the first LTE-only network in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. We are excited to also be able to address the smartphone segment in Norway with the most advanced technology.”

Eivind Helgaker, CEO of Norway’s Ice.net said: “We will be the first to launch a 4G LTE network in the 450 MHz band and the first to launch an LTE-only network in the country. This LTE network in combination with 800, 900, 1800 MHz spectrum band will bring high-bandwidth mobile data connections to consumers and businesses in Norway. We are pleased to leverage Alcatel-Lucent’s strengths in mobile broadband and IP networking as well as its key expertise in delivering mission critical support to enterprises, to meet all the needs of our customers as we increase speeds and capacity across the country.”

Luis Martinez Amago, president EMEA of Alcatel-Lucent said: “This is a clear example of the way Alcatel-Lucent is innovating together with customers to offer a real solution that meets their needs in the simplest and most effective way. The new LTE network will give AINMT Holdings ways to deliver even more compelling, and mission-critical services to its fast-growing base of business and government customers throughout Norway, and eventually to Scandanavia as a whole.”