Canadian operator Telus has announced plans to deploy an LTE network early in 2012. According to the company, the rollout will follow extensive field testing this year and the completion of an RFP process that is currently underway. Construction is slated to begin in major urban markets in the second half of 2011.

April 7, 2011

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MTS Allstream will use the upgrade to meet growing customer demand for higher-speed services
MTS Allstream will use the upgrade to meet growing customer demand for higher-speed services

Canadian operator Telus has announced plans to deploy an LTE network early in 2012. According to the company, the rollout will follow extensive field testing this year and the completion of an RFP process that is currently underway. Construction is slated to begin in major urban markets in the second half of 2011.

Rollout to rural areas depends on Canada’s auction of spectrum in the 700MHz band, due in 2012. Darren Entiwistle, CEO of Telus said that it would be critical for the Federal Government to “enable an equitable opportunity for Telus to acquire 700MHz spectrum” in the auction. In the 2008 auction, new market entrants were allowed to bid for spectrum in an effort to encourage competition.

The LTE network will operate on the 1700/2100MHz Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum that Telus bought for $882m in 2008. The company partnered with Bell Canada to deploy a shared HSPA+ network in 2009 but has not indicated whether its LTE venture will see it taking a similar approach. Between them, Telus , Bell and Rogers Communications have an estimated 95 per cent share of Canada’s wireless market.

The seventh annual LTE World Summit takes place in Amsterdam on 17th – 18th May


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