Belgian cable operator Telenet will conduct LTE tests between May and September, after obtaining the necessary test licence from the Belgian Institute for Post and Telecommunication (BIPT). With this licence, Telenet's LTE network will cover the city of Mechelen and the E19 motorway between Mechelen North and Mechelen South. During the test period, the LTE network will provide users with 10 times faster mobile internet and a response time of up to three times faster, the company said. These characteristics will make mobile broadband internet via LTE attractive for applications such as online gaming, real-time television, interactive video services, videoconferencing and internet applications in cars. The planned tests will be conducted using special LTE equipment that is not yet on the market but is currently under intense development. Telenet will provide the necessary LTE devices to a limited number of relevant internal and external stakeholders. The objective is to determine the ways in which LTE can complement Telenet's current product offerings as well as to learn what issues the company will have to be aware of should it decide to pursue further commercialisation of this spectrum. Telenet already operates as a MVNO on the Mobistar network, and has expressed interest in the possible fourth UMTS licence in Belgium.
