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Lack of spectrum for Vodacom's LTE
2011-11-07
Vodacom Chief Executive Pieter Uys today asserted that they're prepared to launch an LTE network, but that the absence of range is keeping them back. Uys added that they have tested and shown the value of the technology in 2010 already, and they have upgraded their network to support LTE. According to the Vodacom Manager they can basically flip a switch to enable LTE on their network in the bigger Gauteng area. The absence of range is however holding Vodacom back from launching LTE, and according to Uys the re-farming of range for LTE isn't a usable choice for them. Uys claimed that they do not have enough range to launch an LTE network and still support their present voice traffic. The Vodacom Chief Executive added that LTE device availability might also set a challenge when referring to re-farmed range bands. Vodacom, MTN and 8ta are all trialing LTE, but like Vodacom, MTN also pointed to the fact that they want further range to launch commercial LTE services.
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