The world of telecom in Pakistan is revolutionized as Wi-tribe is deploying Pakistan’s first high-speed LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network and make it live by around May 2017, we have checked.
The NetMag team gained info from Huawei Executives that Wi-tribe has signed Huawei for deployment of this high-speed as the 4.5G network in at least five cities where Wi-tribe currently operates.
Once deployed, Wi-tribe will become the first operator in South Asia and the Middle East to deploy the technology on its rich 3.5Ghz spectrum. This network up gradation is part of HB Group’s $50 million investment plan that it had announced when it acquired Wi-tribe from Qatar’s national telecom company Ooredoo.
What is 4.5G?
4.5G or LTE-Advanced Pro is the next wireless upgrade beyond LTE or 4G which is faster and better in user experience and highly efficient in spectrum use. 4.5G is the right way along the LTE evolution path towards 5G. 3GPP approved LTE evolution system (4.5G) namely LTE-Advanced Pro on October 22, 2015.
LTE-Advanced Pro or 4.5G will further improve network data rate, improve user experience, and expand vertical applications. It will significantly promote the LTE network, and help build better worldwide connections.
4.5G features:
There are three core concepts in 4.5G: Gbps, Connection+, and Experience 4.0. 4.5G further increases data rates for better user experience and expands applications in vertical industries. This helps operators create new business applications in vertical industries. This helps operators create new business opportunities and gain a competitive edge in the next few years
4.5G helps operators protect their investment, improve the data rate and user experience based on legacy infrastructure, and serve vertical markets utilizing their own advantages.3GPP approves LTE-Advanced Pro as New Marker for LTE Evolution System (4.5G).
Newly planned LTE Advanced network from Wi-tribe will be capable of delivering speeds of up to 100Mbps per household within the next few months. This speed cap will be raised to 200Mbps per household by the end of 2018 while — with time when more advanced CPEs (customer premises equipment) will be made available — the same technology will be able to deliver speeds of up to 400Mbps per household in or around 2019.
Commenting on the investment, Chairman of the Wi-tribe Supervisory Board and Former UK Government Minister Shahid Malik said:
“Within six months time, over 1 Million households will have access to the fastest wireless home broadband service in Pakistan using the most advanced technology currently available anywhere in the world.
In practice, this will mean a revolution in terms of the amount of data Wi-tribe can offer its customers, but more importantly, it will mean lightening speeds of up to 100 Mbps for a single user household.
This type of speed is unheard of in our industry and if you couple that with huge GB volumes available, we will be able to offer the best internet packages in Pakistan in terms of speed, volume, reliability, and value for money.”
Not to mention, this network up-gradation is wi-tribe’s second major investment after it acquired the multi-million dollar spectrum in August 2016 to double its network capacity.
Wi-tribe will have its LTE-A network live by May 2017 while 50% of its network will be upgraded to LTE-A services by the end of July 2017.
With LTE Advanced network deployed, wi-tribe will be positioned to offer matchless broadband internet services for home and business users, coupled with digital entertainment solutions and live TV as well.
