Ukkoverkot, a mobile service provider in Finland, and Huawei signed a contract to deploy a LTE 450MHz network at the LTE 450MHz Global event in Amsterdam. Under the terms of the agreement, Huawei will provide an end-to-end network platform, including base stations and devices, to ensure the smooth migration from CDMA 450MHz to LTE 450MHz for Ukkoverkot network customers in Finland. This is the first time a commercial LTE 450MHz network has been deployed anywhere in the world, Huawei said. Ukkoverkot aims to provide nationwide coverage of LTE 450MHz by the end of 2014, and to offer the fastest speed LTE services in Finland. Ukkoverkot will now offer 450MHz as a new LTE band in Finland to address frequency resource shortage challenges of a number of mobile operators.
As a strategic partner of Ukkoverkot, Huawei also reuses legacy network resources like base stations, sites, power supplies and antennas, which help to further decrease the network development investments.
The new 450MHz Ukkoverkot LTE network will be the world's first nationwide LTE network of its kind when the network upgrade is finished, Huawei said. The network will offer the largest mobile broadband coverage in Finland. Ukkoverkot is focused on providing mobile data communication services for demanding customer segments like businesses, field and home workers, authorities and transportation industry. Ukkoverkot does not offer speech or SMS services for its customers.
