TORONTO, Oct 6 /CNW/ – Rogers Communications Inc. today announced the
launch of a comprehensive Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network
technical trial with Ericsson Canada in the Ottawa area.
LTE is a fourth generation (4G) wireless technology that enables
lightning-fast HD video streaming, gaming, communications, transactions
and other connected experiences through mobile Internet. LTE allows
significantly more data to pass through a network at speeds of up to 150
Mbps and it will become the foundation in a world defined by connected
experiences.
“Our customers increasingly want anywhere, anytime access to
information, communications, entertainment and transactional experiences
on their device of choice,” said Nadir Mohamed, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Rogers Communications Inc. “LTE is the next
generation platform delivering superior mobile speed and functionality
similar to what Canadians currently experience at home and at work. This
technical trial is significant because it builds on our industry-leading
networks and it sets the groundwork for our customers to do even more in
the future.”
Ericsson, in co-operation with Rogers, has been conducting LTE lab
testing at its Ottawa Research and Development facility comparing speeds
and performance of LTE technology in multiple frequency bands. Rogers
will expand on this testing and move to a comprehensive technical trial
of LTE on both low and high band frequencies across the Ottawa area.
“Through this trial we will validate how LTE technology will perform in
real world situations across a variety of spectrum frequencies in urban,
suburban, and rural environments,” said Bob Berner, EVP, Network and
Chief Technology Officer, Rogers Communications Inc. “Furthermore, we
will verify LTE data throughput speeds, performance quality, and
interoperability of LTE with our existing advanced HSPA+ network
ensuring that future commercial deployment enables the best customer
experience.
The technical trial will initially use recently auctioned AWS spectrum.
Rogers is also working with Industry Canada to secure a development
license to use 700 MHz spectrum for the trial.
“We are proud that our LTE competence and unique expertise in Canada is
empowering some of the largest LTE deployments around the world,” said
Hans Vestberg, President & CEO, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
“Having operated in Canada for nearly 60 years and as one of the
country’s top R&D investors employing more than 2400
engineers/developers, Ericsson is leading LTE development at our Ottawa
lab, bringing the most advanced mobile broadband technologies to
Canadians and global markets,” said Mark Henderson, President & CEO,
Ericsson Canada Inc.
About Rogers Communications:
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada’s largest provider of wireless voice and data
communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers of cable
television, high-speed Internet and telephony services. Through Rogers
Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised
shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment.
We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and
RCI.B and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further
information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.