Ooredoo, Nokia Networks launch LTE-advanced technology

NEW DELHI: Qatari telecoms operator Ooredoo has launched its LTE-advanced (LTE-A) three-band carrier aggregation technology on the Ooredoo Supernet.

For faster data speeds, Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia technology has helped the operator to provide higher data speeds of up to 375 Mbps to its customers.

The higher speeds are already available in several high-traffic areas of Doha, including West Bay, the Corniche and Katara Cultural Village. With this new technology, people using Category 9 (CAT 9)-capable handsets can benefit from data intensive services, including ultra high-definition video download, and upcoming trends, including virtual reality.

"We're aiming to further improve the broadband experience for our customers with faster data speeds and an excellent network performance. Nokia Networks is helping us to meet these goals and we look forward to deploying the latest technical achievements as we continue to enhance our world-class network," said Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar.

"We're happy to support Ooredoo Qatar in its mission to provide top-quality services to its customers. After we successfully demonstrated 600 Mbps CAT 11 speeds in October, we have now helped Ooredoo launch the three-band carrier aggregation technology to deliver higher data throughput with superior reliability," said Bernard Najm, Vice President and Head of Middle East and Africa, Nokia Networks.

This investment has been designed as part of Ooredoo's ongoing Supernet investment to provide the best possible Internet experience for customers, with higher speeds and superior performance on all 3G, 4G and 4G+ devices.

Ooredoo and Nokia Networks have a long history of working together, and the companies recently announced they will partner to deploy small cells in popular network hotspots across the country to enhance Ooredoo's 3G and 4G network.

In October 2015, Ooredoo, Nokia Networks and NETGEAR collaborated on a first-of-its-kind speed test using LTE-Advanced CAT11 on the Ooredoo Supernet, achieving a peak data rate of 590 Mbps - the first time this speed was reached in tests in Qatar and the whole GCC region.

The speed was achieved by aggregating 60MHz of spectrum across three bands and applying 256 QAM higher order modulation, touching a milestone in speed and performance of Ooredoo's network.

This latest upgrade was designed to provide a better customer experience on the Ooredoo network, as well as contribute to the Qatar National Vision's aim to boost the knowledge-based economy, by enabling a host of new customers access to the financial, educational and social services the Internet can provide.