CSL begins dual-band 1800/2600 LTE rollout

Hong Kong cellco CSL has begun deploying a dual-band LTE network using equipment from ZTE that will refarm its 1800 MHz spectrum.

The deployment, announced Thursday, is part of a contract under which ZTE will supply CSL with its entire LTE infrastructure, including devices and a unified core network. No financial details have been disclosed.

ZTE said its software defined radio (SDR) technology will support distributed multi-mode and multi-band base stations, allowing CSL to run LTE on 2600 MHz and 1800 MHz.

CSL CTO Christian Daigneault told telecomasia.net that running LTE in the two bands would give better indoor coverage and provide more stable connections in hot broadband-traffic areas through the extra capacity.

“Another advantage is that for LTE sites installed in-building, LTE at 1800 MHz can re-use the existing GSM cabling,” Daigneault added. “This will accelerate the availability of LTE in all indoor locations in the future.”

CSL isn’t the first cellco to look at deploying LTE in the 1800 band. Finland operators TeliaSonera, Elisa and DNA were allocated additional 1800 spectrum in April 2009 specifically for LTE rollouts.

Earlier this month, CSL’s parent Telstra announced it was trialing 1800 MHz LTE with equipment from Huawei Technologies.