NSN upgrades Telenor and 3’s shared HSPA+ network to 42Mbps

Telenor Sweden and Hi3G Access Sweden (3) have upgraded their shared 3G network via a contract awarded to Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) by joint infrastructure venture 3GIS, giving subscribers in ‘large parts of Sweden’ mobile data speeds of up to 42Mbps (theoretical maximum downlink). The project involved NSN implementing Dual Carrier (DC) HSPA+ technology and also increasing capacity on the 3G network, with the vendor claiming in a press release that Telenor and 3 are now able to offer twice the previous bandwidth. The DC-HSPA+ upgrades took place in ‘high traffic areas’ of the 3GIS network using NSN’s Flexi base stations, in addition to capacity expansion covering the majority of the network. NSN operates the 3GIS network under a continuing managed services contract. 3GIS is a shared network that provides 3G service to the two cellco’s customers outside Sweden’s three largest cities of Stockholm, Gothenbourg and Malmo, and covers 70% of the population.