HomeNewsEricsson helps APT700 to reach South America with Entel deployment

Ericsson helps APT700 to reach South America with Entel deployment

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The APT700 spectrum band has been extended to Latin America, with Ericsson and Chile-based operator Entel completing the first data session on the frequency.

The two companies ran data sessions across 10 test sites on Entelโ€™s 4G network, due to launch on APT700 next year, in Rancagua city.

Entel was one of three Chilean operators to win a licence on the APT700 band following the countryโ€™s spectrum auction in February this year.

APT700 has largely been deployed across Asia and Oceania, with Ericsson involved in the rollout of the worldโ€™s first network in Taiwan in June and the first trials with Telstra.

However, vendor rival Nokia Networks used the band on a large-scale LTE broadcast trial in Germany during the summer.

Antonio Bรผchi, CEO, Entel, said: โ€œThe APT700 band has the ability to provide excellent in-building coverage as well as wide area coverage in suburban and rural areas. We expect, once we have the release by the government, to deploy our nationwide network.

โ€œOur customers will benefit from an LTE mobile broadband service featuring a combination of high speed, improved throughput and low latency, all of which combine to provide an enhanced user experience.โ€

Nicolas Brancoli, Vice President of Ericsson Latin America, added: โ€œThis test marks another significant milestone for Ericsson and Entel, and further consolidates our network leadership in the region. This is the latest in a number of successful technology trials undertaken with Entel aimed at readying the operatorโ€™s network for the release of the APT700 digital dividend.โ€

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