The 3-band LTE-A service offers up to 300 megabits per second (Mbps) of download speed, roughly four times faster than 75-Mbps services on the existing LTE network. (image: SK Telecom)
SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) – SK Telecom will build a full-fledged 3-band LTE-A network. The leading mobile carrier will begin its construction work on LTE base stations from Busan, Gwangju and Seoul utilizing 2.1-GHz band and 10-MHz bandwidths. SK Telecom already established 2.1-GHz LTE base stations for test in Busan area.
Those 2.1-GHz LTE stations will be the base of its 3-band LTE-A (long-term evolution advanced) services. The 3-band LTE-A service offers up to 300 megabits per second (Mbps) of download speed, roughly four times faster than 75-Mbps services on the existing LTE network. With aggregating totally 40-MHz bandwidths of 800-MHz, 1.8-GHz and 2.1-GHz bandwidths, SK Telecom successfully demonstrated the service last January.
To prevent disruption of the 3-band LTE-A service, SK Telecom will apply 3-band LTE-A software packages in existing base stations before the roll-out of handsets for the service. The handset for the service is now under chipset development and experts forecast those handsets will be launched at the end of this year.
Before the handsets, SK Telecom will offer LTE service through 3-band multi-carrier (MC) service. The 3-band MC service can increase the speed by diverting users to three frequency bandwidths in the areas with concentrated traffic.
Written by John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
Technology (Follow us @Technews_Korea)
