OREANDA-NEWS. Tele2, an alternative mobile operator, has launched Russia’s first LTE network in the 450 MHz spectrum in Tver and Novgorod regions. A launch of this technology will contribute to elimination of digital divide in the country.

Tele2 is the only mobile operator in Russia that has the 450 MHz spectrum band. Frequencies that earlier belonged to CJSC Sky Link became available to the company as a part of Tele2 and Rostelecom JV. In June 2015, CJSC Sky Link was consolidated with LLC T2 Mobile. Tele2 will provide high-speed data in the 450 MHz spectrum under Skylink brand.

Tver and Novgorod regions are the first where the operator is rolling out LTE-450 networks. By the end of June, the company will also launch LTE networks in the 450 MHz spectrum in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, and in Moscow Region in July.

The key advantage of the LTE-450 network is a high-quality coverage and high-speed data even in remote residential areas and villages with no stable GSM coverage and high-bandwidth Internet. Thus, a base station working in the 450 MHz spectrum is able to cover the territory with a radius up to 20 km, which exceeds 5-6 times opportunities of the LTE-supporting equipment in the 2600 MHz spectrum band. Besides, a new technology is able to provide good reception of signal in the buildings with complex construction features and basements.

To provide high-speed wireless Internet, the operator is offering special equipment to subscribers under the Skylink brand: two types of 4G routers for a country house and a mobile 4G router for travelling. This multi-purpose equipment is not only working in the 450 MHz spectrum but also supporting other LTE spectrum bands (800, 1800 and 2600 MHz). Thus, with LTE frequencies of higher spectrum available, the equipment will automatically switch onto them.

At a launch stage, users will be able to subscribe to one simple tariff. The client gets 4 Gb of high-speed Internet for a fee of 990 rubles per month. The cost of traffic in access of the bundle totals 24 kopecks for one megabyte.

Apart from providing high-speed mobile Internet to individuals, the company is planning to enter the B2B segment under the Skylink brand. The operator is also planning to launch the MVNO project aimed at the development of special purpose networks for governmental and security bodies. Wide coverage is opening new opportunities in the M2M segment – in transport, banking and other spheres.

Sergey Emdin, CEO at Tele2:

“Innovation and main advantage of the LTE-450 network lies in a fact that subscribers may use mobile service in locations earlier unavailable. Thanks to LTE-450 networks, high-speed wireless Internet will appear in residential areas where digital divide issue is not yet solved as operators see no expediency in rollout of networks at these territories. We consider the technology to be a very promising solution that may be successfully used in such segments as M2M, B2B and B2G.”