Kyivstar operator has started using LTE 2300-TDD mobile data transmission technology in test mode. Thanks to this, the company plans to increase the peak data transfer rate and develop communication services in regions of Ukraine that are actively growing in terms of data traffic.
In the second quarter of 2022, the regulator allocated radio frequency bands in the 2100 MHz band to three mobile operators to increase the capacity of existing 3G networks or improve the radio coverage of LTE/4G networks. Recently, the telecom regulator also gave Kyivstar permission to temporarily (for the period of martial law) connect radio equipment in the 2300 MHz band. Due to this, the company plans to increase the capacity of the mobile network in the border areas and in cities, to which during the war a large number of residents migrated from other regions of the country. In particular, according to Kyivstar analytical data, after February 24, 2022, more than 4 million subscribers moved to the West of Ukraine.
“Stable operation of telecom networks helps bring victory closer. We are grateful to the leadership of the country and the leadership of the industry for their comprehensive support and creation of new opportunities to provide more stable and reliable mobile communications for citizens of Ukraine, government agencies and businesses, which is our top priority in a martial law,” commented Kyivstar President Oleksandr Komarov.
A feature of the new mobile technology is that data is received and transmitted at the same frequencies. This allows the operator to manage network bandwidth more efficiently. The “peak” mobile data rate for LTE 2300-TDD technology at a bandwidth of 40 MHz can reach 600 Mbps in ideal radio conditions.
For customers, the use of new mobile technology means better mobile Internet services in high-traffic areas, better video streaming, more opportunities for online financial transactions, faster launch of “remote jobs”, etc.
The first base stations operating on the new technology have already been installed in Ternopil. Currently, the first two out of three base stations LTE 2300 TDD are included in Ternopil, but the operator plans to install 100 such base stations by the end of this year.
The development of new mobile technologies in Ukraine became possible thanks to the assistance of government departments – these are the National Regulator (NCEC) and the National Center for Operational and Technical Management of Telecommunications Networks (NCU), the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the State Special Communications Service. Also, foreign suppliers of radio network equipment – Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, ZTE – are actively assisting in the implementation of this project.
