European telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Wednesday that it will deploy the 4G (LTE) network for Bhutan Telecom (BT) this year and pilot commercial services will be initially launched in the country’s capital Thimphu.
“Ericsson is proud to partner with BT to deploy LTE for the first time in the Kingdom. Bhutan Telecom subscribers will enjoy faster data speeds and an enhanced user experience,” Ericsson said in a statement
As part of the 4G deployment, Ericsson will provide Bhutan Telecom with LTE equipment in the 1800 MHz spectrum band, including its RBS 6000 radio base station technology that supports operations of multiple network, from 2G to 4G, through a single set of equipment.
“4G LTE gives users more of what they want. It will transform the way people in Bhutan communicate, share information, collaborate, consume content and stay connected,” Ericsson Head Region India Fredrik Jejdling told reporters here.
Under the contract, Ericsson will also provide its Home Subscriber Server (HSS) functionality that contains subscription-related information and performs authentication and authorisation of the user.
The contract includes provisioning of LTE software for various nodes, and services including network implementation, commissioning and integration.
“As data usage increases, our major network initiatives, including last year’s 3G network modernisation and rollout of 4G in the capital city this year will be critical in ensuring we deliver the best services to our subscribers,” Bhutan Telecom CEO Nidup Dorji said.