DiGi able to roll out LTE despite spectrum limitation: COO
- DiGi says its LTE spectrum is enough in the meanwhile
- Company working on refarming the 1800MHz spectrum
[Original heading amended to better reflect DiGi's stand]
DiGi, a part of the Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor ASA, currently has two blocks of 10MHz spectrum on the 2600MHz band. The spectrum was presented for the telecommunications carrier company to roll out mobile broadband services through LTE technology.
The Malaysian Government offered the 4G-LTE spectrum to eight groups, the others being Maxis Bhd, Celcom Axiata Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Redtone International Bhd, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (P1), YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, and Altel Communications Sdn Bhd.
DiGi's competitors along with Celcom and Maxis are sharing their respective LTE spectra with the other a success LTE candidates, as a manner to provide high-pace wireless broadband offerings greater value-successfully.
Celcom is working with Altel, while Maxis is operating with U Mobile and Redtone on spectrum-sharing deals.
P1, which at one factor in time regarded to be a likely takeover target for DiGi, ended up being obtained by means of fixed-line operator Telekom Malaysia Bhd.
This leaves DiGi as the handiest incumbent cell operator without a spectrum-sharing associate.
“For now, what we're dedicated to is building 1,500 LTE websites by way of the cease of this year. I think there's extra than sufficient spectrum to even double that (web site coverage)," DiGi leader running officer Albern Murty (p.c) instructed Digital News Asia (DNA) on the sidelines of the Disrupt dialogue ultimate week where he became a panellist.
"So there may be enough spectrum for the [time being],” he brought.
DiGi is also searching at the use of the 1800MHz band to roll out its LTE services. It has two blocks of the 25MHz spectrum in that band.
“We are working at the technical attitude of refarming [the 1800MHz spectrum] first. If it is something that we can do, then it's far an opportunity that we can pursue," Albern said.
"Ultimately, we need the approval of the regulator [the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or MCMC], but for now, we need to recognize the generation and what we can do inside a certain spectrum.
“So, I don’t suppose DiGi is concerned about [spectrum] barriers at this point in time,” he claimed.
Although DiGi is believed to be the usage of the 1800MHz band for its entire GSM [or Third Generation technology] user base, it is not uncommon for mobile operators to apply the 1800MHz band for excessive-velocity wireless broadband offerings like LTE.
In fact, specialists trust that launching LTE on the 1800MHz spectrum has its blessings in comparison with the 2600MHz spectrum. One advantage is the more availability of handsets and gadgets.
Besides being reputedly handicapped with regards to the LTE spectrum, DiGi is also brief in the 900MHz band. Currently, Celcom has blocks of 17MHz of the 900MHz band, Maxis has 2x16 MHz at the same time as DiGi has 2x2 MHz.
On what the organisation is making plans to do to get extra allocation at the 900MHz band, Albern said that it all depends at the regulator, adding that he did no longer need to elaborate similarly.
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It’s spectrum rebalancing: MCMC on 2.6GHz allocation
Disrupt: LTE can boost ARPU, but will take time
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