Telenor Hungary reported on its website that by the end of 2016 it offered 4G LTE mobile broadband at theoretical speeds of 150Mbps/50Mbps (download/upload) in 2,100 villages, each with less than 6,000 inhabitants, including 1,100 villages each with sub-1,000 populations. The company’s statement highlighted that in sparsely populated areas its ‘Hipernet’ 4G LTE network can offer an alternative to low-speed fixed line internet, whilst Telenor added that in 2017 it will expand 4G services to a further 500 villages (each with sub-6,000 populations) whilst improving both indoor and outdoor LTE signals.
The cellco also disclosed that it has deployed around 700 LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) base stations in Budapest, Balaton, Gyor, Szombathely, Szekesfehervar and Veszprem. As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, Telenor Hungary launched LTE-A with 300Mbps theoretical download speeds in May 2016 in inner-city districts of Budapest and parts of Gyor. TeleGeography adds that the operator began offering 4G LTE services in July 2012, before upgrading to ‘standard’ 150Mbps LTE peak speed in October 2013, claiming 97% 4G national population coverage by May 2016.