Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has announced that it has been selected by E-Plus, the German mobile unit of Dutch telecoms group KPN, as a partner for the deployment of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the 1800MHz frequency band. The Finnish vendor will also modernise E-Plus’ GSM network while expanding HSPA+ capacity in the 2100MHz band under the deal, which covers the delivery and integration of the operator’s mobile access network. ‘E-Plus aims to offer mass market customers an optimal web browsing experience anytime and anywhere,’ said Andreas Pfisterer, CTO and member of the board at E-Plus Group, adding: ‘After the rapid upgrading of our network to the HSPA+ standard, we will continue our user-oriented and economically targeted network expansion strategy with the launch of a demand-driven LTE expansion under the motto ‘Smart LTE’.’ NSN will deliver its radio access network which features its energy-efficient, high-capacity Flexi Multiradio 10 Base Station, and will also provide its Liquid Radio GSM software suite, as well as expanding the capabilities of its NetAct network management system and delivering various services such as installation and integration.
As previously reported by CommsUpdate, E-Plus successfully completed tests of an LTE network in the 1800MHz frequency band in July last year. The previous month, Germany’s telecoms regulator, the Federal Network Agency (FNA, also known as Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA), approved an application from E-Plus to allow the mobile network operator to use its 1800MHz spectrum for the provision of mobile broadband services, such as LTE. Until then the frequencies had been reserved for GSM services only.