Indonesian cellco XL Axiata has chosen Ericsson as its LTE trial supplier, while rival Telkomsel will start trials of the 4G technology by June.
XL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ericsson – one of its existing 2G and 3G network suppliers - to trial LTE later this year, CFO Wim Timmermans told telecomasia.net.
Chinese vendor Huawei also supplies 2G and 3G network equipment to XL, but Timmermans says that Ericsson was “ready slightly earlier [than Huawei] to get a MoU signed with us.”
“There’s not enough time to trial [LTE] with everyone – all LTE technologies [regardless of the vendor] are compatible with each other,” he said.
“The trial is just a way of getting some experience [with a new technology]. Once we commit to commercial deployment, I think the game will be completely open [to all vendors].”
Timmermans believes that LTE is still “a couple of years away from becoming a commercial reality” for XL.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s dominant cellco Telkomsel plans to commence LTE trials within a month, according to president director Sarwoto Atmosutarno.
Atmosutarno told the Jakarta Globe that the LTE trial would continue until the end of next year, with commercial services due to begin in 2012.
Telkomsel’s 2G/3G network vendors include Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Ericsson.
“NSN is prepared to support Telkomsel in a trial when requested,” according to a spokesperson from the vendor.