Nokia Networks, Ooredoo claim first Qatar LTE-A service

Nokia Networks and Qatar-based telco Ooredoo have announced what they claim to be the first LTE-Advanced service in the country. The two partners claimed the nationwide service, achieved through LTE-A carrier aggregation by Nokia, offers up to 225Mbps downlink data speeds.

According to Nokia, carrier aggregation is a key feature of LTE-A, allowing operators to take advantage of larger virtual bandwidths through combining separate spectrum bands.

“The demand for higher network capacity and speed in malls, stadiums and at national events is growing at a rapid pace,” Waleed Al-Sayed, COO, Ooredoo Qatar, said. “With Nokia Networks’ help, we are now able to address this demand, offering the fastest network with latest technology for our customers.”

Nokia said it has acted as the sole LTE provider for Ooredoo in the project that included building a complete radio and core network, providing the Nokia Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, Evolved Packet Core technology and its NetAct network management system. The carrier aggregation was conducted through combining 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands, and upgrading the existing installed equipment with Nokia’s carrier aggregation software.

“We are committed to helping Ooredoo meet the ever-increasing bandwidth demand by providing a smooth transition to LTE-Advanced technology,” Igor Leprince, Executive Vice President of Global Services and Head of Middle East & Africa, Nokia Networks, said.

“With our expertise in carrier aggregation, our experience in delivering superior network performance and our extensive network planning services, Ooredoo can significantly increase its data throughput for the best customer experience possible.”

Meanwhile in other news, Ooredoo together with Alcatel-Lucent has built a 400Gbps ultra-broadband mobile network in Algeria. According to Alcatel-Lucent the network, which it claimed is the first of its kind in whole of Africa, will provide superior speeds to any previous network in the country. It is based on the infrastructure vendor’s Dense Wave Division Multiplexing optical transport technology and uses the 1830 Photonic Service Switch.

“Ooredoo Algeria has the fastest growing 3G network in the country and in north Africa,” Josepg Ged, Ooredoo Algeria’s CEO said. “Our 400G network will be instrumental to support the best quality of experience (QoE) for our customers as well as to increase our market share in Algeria.”

“Thanks to 400G and the efficiency of OTN sub-wavelength grooming, Ooredoo Algeria’s new network will support the booming explosion of data traffic generated by the proliferation of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets and do so in the most economical way,” Pierre Chaume, VP, Alcatel-Lucent Middle East & North Africa, said.

“As Alcatel-Lucent, we are proud to be Ooredoo’s partner in the transport area and to enable Ooredoo Algeria to be the first service provider to deploy our 400G[bps] solution in Africa. It will enable Ooredoo Algeria to take and maintain the lead in providing robust service in Algeria for the foreseeable future.”