CSL's new LTE lab a center of wireless ambitions

Robert Clark
26 Nov 2009
00:00

CSL opened the doors of its LTE lab in Kowloon Bay yesterday – the first in Hong Kong and one of the first in the world.

The CSL Technology Center is at the heart of a cluster of LTE field trials across the city, offering download speeds of up to 127 Mbps.

But it also represents the overlapping ambitions of Telstra-owned CSL and its equipment supplier, ZTE.

For CSL, it has been a chance to revamp its networks and take the technology lead in the hyper-competitive local market.

But it has been possible only because of the massive resources committed by its mainland technology partner.

At one stage ZTE had sent 1,000 engineers to Hong Kong to work on the project – almost as many as CSL’s 1,400 staff. It now has a team of 600 working with CSL in Hong Kong, according to CSL chief technology officer Christian Daigneault.

“ZTE didn’t choose us – they chose our parent,” he said. “ZTE knew all about the technologies, but needed a major carrier partner to tell them what they needed,”

Telstra sent its top mobile engineers to Hong Kong to work with ZTE. Now, even though it is not one of Telstra’s vendors, ZTE is continuing to work with the operator on LTE in Australia.

Related content

Follow Telecom Asia Sport!
Comments
No Comments Yet! Be the first to share what you think!
This website uses cookies
This provides customers with a personalized experience and increases the efficiency of visiting the site, allowing us to provide the most efficient service. By using the website and accepting the terms of the policy, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the terms of this policy.