Digicel Finalizing LTE Network Deployments

Without the necessary infrastructure to deliver next generation communications services, telecom operators are greatly limited in generating new streams of revenue. This is especially true in developing countries where the infrastructure is not keeping pace with more mature markets. The Digicel (News - Alert) Group, which provides global communications with operation in 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific, is addressing this problem with its Digicel 2030 global transformation program with the goal of deploying 4G LTE (News - Alert) networks across 26 markets in the Caribbean and Central America.

Digicel was founded 13 years ago, and the company has invested over $5 billion to improve the infrastructure in the countries it operates. For the new round of investment, the company collaborated with ZTE (News - Alert) to deliver the 4G LTE technology these countries need.

In addressing one of the countries, Bermuda, Julian Burton, Chief Commercial Officer of Digicel Bermuda and BTC, said, “An island-wide LTE network is one of two major technology investments we have committed to in Bermuda for 2017. The second being a full Fiber-to-the-Home [FTTH] roll-out also underway.”

The network deployment is in the final stages, with completion and testing dates of April and May being announced by Digicel.  Once the network is up and running, the company can provide next-generation communications solutions for consumers and organizations with faster data, better video streaming and higher quality service to 13 million customers.

Although Digicel said it has been providing SIM cards for LTE for the past two years, and most of its customers have compatible LTE phones, the ZTE 4G LTE  Uni-RAN technology will allow the company to offer 2G/3G convergence for customers that are still using older phones. With ZTE, Digicel can also leverage additional features, including unified management and maintenance, resource sharing for different systems while lowering the total cost of ownership and saving over 30 percent of construction costs.

The 4G LTE infrastructure will deliver download data throughputs of 130 Mbps and upload of 35 Mbps for each BP board, which is enough to address future HSPA+/LTE networks while meeting the requirement of multi-mode networking. This will make it possible for Digicel to continue delivering next-generation communications service such as Virtual and Augmented Reality, Internet of Things (IoT), gaming, real time services and more.