In the context of the auction organized this November 28th by the BIPT, Mobistar has acquired a 4G licence for 20.02 million euros. This authorization is valid for 15 years, starting on the 1st of July 2012 and covers a frequency block of 20 MHz duplex in the 2.6 GHz band.
By purchasing this 4G licence, Mobistar continues to invest, to offer the most advanced technologies to its customers. The 4G mobile data technology, also called LTE (Long Term Evolution), provides much higher transmission speeds and shorter response times to users, and so considerably improves the customer experience. LTE tests conducted by Mobistar both in Belgium and in Luxembourg resulted in download speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) downlink and 33 Mbps uplink, in other words speeds that are 10 times higher than those of current high-speed mobile networks. Above all, 4G response times are about 20 milliseconds (ms), compared to 100 ms today for 3G.
“With the acquisition of this 4G licence, Mobistar continues its strategy of super high-speed mobile Internet started in April 2010 with the first LTE tests and followed by the modernization of the hybrid 2G/3G/4G network, which was initiated last September. Today, Mobistar is already able to offer high-speed mobile Internet thanks to its 3G network equipped with HSPA+ and as of 2012, Mobistar will be able to take the customer experience to unprecedented levels with the availability of the LTE network on the 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands. Thanks to these investments, we will be able to absorb the enormous growth of mobile data traffic and to optimally meet the evolution of the needs of our customers, who more and more often watch videos on the move”, explains Pascal Koster, Mobistar’s Chief Technology Officer.
Mobistar is planning to invest more than 100 million euros in the deployment of LTE technology on its network over the years to come. These investments, part of investment levels already announced by Mobistar, are ready to absorb an annual 50% increase in mobile data traffic until 2025. More than ever, Mobistar is ready to offer its customers the best network for innovative products and services.