Nokia prepares mobile operator MobileOne for LTE

Singapore operator MobileOne has signed Nokia Siemens Network (NSN) to upgrade it’s current 2G network with Internet Protocol capabilites. By which I mean, in plain language, that it’s upgrading it to a mobile Web capable 3G network. Now, MobileOne has had it’s own 3G network since 2005, but this upgrade is to ensure that it’s entire network is IP capable - in preparation for the roll-out of a 4G LTE network.

Nokia Siemens Networks is handling the upgrade and maintenance of the network, which should be completed by 2011.

From the release:

“This network modernization is in line with our strategy to invest for the future. It will enable us to prepare for the future needs of our customers and to continue to offer them the optimal level of service that they are accustomed to. The introduction of the latest radio technology will also allow us to use and manage our energy and spectrum resources more efficiently,” said Karen Kooi, Chief Executive Officer of M1.

Christian Fredrikson, Head of APAC, Nokia Siemens Networks said: “Our collaboration with M1 goes back a long way, and includes the setting up of this very 2G network more than 13 years ago. It is a moment of great pride for us to be part of M1’s evolution, and to prepare its business for the future.”

What we think?

I can’t help but get excited about all the LTE that have been circulating in the last few months. Even when I joined this business not too long ago in November, it wasn’t mentioned all that much. WiMAX was  much more “now”, but LTE was still a future technology. Now it seems just around the corner, and everyone is preparing for it’s arrival. But I wonder how much LTE is going to affect things, really. Yes, it will allow for much more complex and speedy processes across the mobile web - but the traditional problems of data prices, customer education, fragmentation and lack of standards will still be rife.