Telecom NZ to conduct live LTE trial in 2012
Telecom New Zealand has announced plans to conduct live LTE trials this year, in preparation for an upgrade of its XT 3G network.
The company aims to select a technology to trial and begin offering trial services to certain consumer and business customers by the end of the year.
The trial is likely to take place in major cities Auckland and Wellington, as well as some smaller regions.
CEO Paul Reynolds said the company is pressing on with the trial ahead of the New Zealand government finalizing plans for its 700-MHz 4G spectrum auction, in order to “build real-world experience of 4G operations.”
Malaysia to allocate 2.6-GHz spectrum soon
Regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has revealed it intends to allocate 2.6-GHz 4G spectrum to the nation's operators soon.
At a press briefing attended by Malaysia's Business Times, MCMC chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said the body will allocate spectrum once it reviews the network collaboration plans that have already been submitted by the operators.
But he added that it will take some time for operators to be ready to commence rollouts, as they will need to agree on areas to cover, identify suitable sites and order equipment.
MCMC has previously disclosed plans to allocate 2.6-GHz spectrum to nine players – cellcos DiGi, Celcom Axiata, Maxis and U Mobile, Wimax operators P1, REDTone, YTL and Asiaspace, and newcomer Puncak Semangat.