8/20/2010 4:53:19 PM
IT Comms news: Clear Mobitel to trial advanced LTE broadband radio
Clear Mobitel Ltd (www.clearmobitel.com) (CM) whose headquarters are in
the UK has today announced its intention to conduct the UK’s first
live consumer trial of Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio technology
in the 800MHz Digital Dividend spectrum. This radio frequency band
was previously occupied by analogue TV transmissions until the
digital switchover in the South West which was completed in April
2009. Clear Mobitel will conduct the LTE trial in a zone which is
centered on the Caradon Hill area of East Cornwall. The purpose of
the trial is to assess the performance of LTE to provide viable
solutions in providing high speed broadband services to the rural
consumer.
CM will be trialling solutions based on its own LTE end user
devices to connect so-called "not spot" rural area consumers that
either have no broadband or poor broadband service currently.
CM has been working for over 12 months to attain a license to
operate in the 800MHz band in Cornwall. Harpal Mann CEO and Founder
of Clear Mobitel commented,
"This trial is one of the most important projects
in the company at present. This is not just a trial of rural
broadband solutions based on LTE for Cornwall, it is a trial which
has global ramifications for rural economies that have been
shattered by the effects of the global recession." The company’s
Regulatory Affairs Director Andrew Elston said, "This trial marks
an important step forward in assessing how LTE can make a valuable
contribution in delivering solutions to meet the rural high speed
broadband challenge. Cornwall is an excellent area to conduct such
a trial given it is deeply rural in nature and also the fact that
the 800MHz band is largely dormant due to the completion of the
switch from analogue to digital terrestrial TV transmission. We are
looking to gather vitally important data about such a deployment
scenario using LTE technology during this trial and how it can
assist in providing the benefits of high speed broadband to all
rural consumers."
This announcement adds to the achievements of Clear Mobitel in
this technology. It has already achieved a recommendation of
allocation in the 2600MHz band in Jersey to operate a 4G LTE
network from the Jersey Competition and Regulatory Authority
(JCRA). JCRA Chief Executive Chuck Webb commented on Clear
Mobitel’s announcement,
"We would congratulate Clear Mobitel on its announcement
regarding conducting the UK’s first live 4G LTE consumer trial in
the 800MHz Digital Dividend spectrum in the mainland.
Clear Mobitel was awarded a telecommunications operator licence
in Jersey in 2009 and subsequently achieved a 20 + 20MHz FDD
channel block recommendation of allocation in the 2600MHz band from
the JCRA following an extensive consultation on the same band last
year. We look forward to Clear Mobitel executing on its plan to
provide high speed 4G LTE broadband services in Jersey in the near
future."