•Síminn and Ericsson have joined forces to provide enhanced LTE mobile broadband services for Icelandic customers
•Síminn’s core network, LTE network and 3G network will be upgraded and expanded and in the coming years Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi Calling are also envisaged
•The contract covers equipment, software and a range of professional services, including project management, systems integration and support
Síminn (Iceland Telecom) has entered into a new five-year strategic partnership with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to enhance further rollout of LTE across Iceland. As a result, Síminn will be able to offer its customers improved network performance and new services, such as VoLTE. Síminn’s core network and 3G network will be upgraded in parallel with the LTE deployments to ensure world-class mobile network infrastructure.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will install its multi-standard radio base station, the RBS 6000, which supports GSM/ EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA, and LTE in a single cabinet. Indoor and outdoor small cell solutions will also add capacity in selected areas. Ericsson will be the prime supplier of all radio access equipment and the common core network, including Ericsson IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Evolved Packet Core. When introduced, VoLTE will allow users to experience superior HD voice-call quality and faster call-set-up times. In addition, Ericsson will expand network functionality and deliver a range of professional services – including project management, systems integration and support.
Orri Hauksson, President and CEO, Síminn, says: “We are strengthening our strategic partnership with Ericsson to secure a continued strong and flexible cooperation, with the Icelandic end-customer experience and satisfaction as the most important common goal. We want to improve services to our customers and enable them to benefit fully from Síminn’s high mobile internet speed. We are focusing on expanding and enhancing the LTE network for people on the move and they will be assured a good connection for their phones, tablets and laptops throughout Iceland. Ericsson is a world leader in its field and has been Síminn´s most important strategic partner for decades and we are very pleased to further develop that partnership.
According to Statistics Iceland, more than half of Icelandic users make Internet calls. Internet calling is particularly popular among people aged 25 to 34, with around 62 percent of this age group using the service. Notably, over the last 2 years the number of people accessing movies and music online has increased by 50%. When it comes to young people (aged 16-24), online purchases of media content has doubled. As a result, more than half of young people in Iceland now access movies and music online.
Charlotta Sund, Head of Region Northern Europe and Central Asia, Ericsson, says: “Rapid growth in mobile data traffic along with constant increase of customer demands set new requirements to all data-related capacity and thus intense expansion of the LTE network is necessary. This partnership will enable new exciting opportunities for business, society and people in Iceland. Being a global LTE leader, Ericsson is committed to help Síminn meet the growing demand for mobile broadband in the country.”
Ericsson is the market leader in commercial mobile broadband networks, chosen by about half of the world’s telecom operators. Ericsson is present today in all high-traffic LTE markets, including the US, Japan, and South Korea, and is ranked first for handling the most global LTE traffic. Ericsson is number one in LTE market share within the world’s top 100 cities.
40 percent of the world’s mobile traffic is carried over Ericsson networks, which is twice as much mobile traffic as the closest competitor. More than 220 LTE RAN and Evolved Packet Core networks have been delivered worldwide, of which 170 are live commercially.
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