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Du increases LTE expansion plans by 25 per cent [Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates)](Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Du doubled its 4G LTE footprint in the first three months of 2014, and is working on completing this additional expansion by the end of the year. In response to the increasing demand for faster connectivity, du will expand its 4G LTE network by 25 per cent - beyond the company's original plans for expansion in 2014. Du doubled its 4G LTE footprint in the first three months of 2014, and is working on completing this additional expansion by the end of the year. "Our internal analysis and monitoring of data usage patterns on our network has shown very healthy growth, in line with global trends," said Saleem Albalooshi, executive vice president of network development and operations, du. "In order to provide our customers with the best experience, we have added value to our network by increasing it beyond our original plans for 2014. This will allow customers to experience seamless 4G LTE connectivity in more areas than before, truly paving the way for the fulfillment of both the Smart Government and Smart City initiatives." The increase in du's 4G LTE network footprint will mean better speeds and higher bandwidth for customers, than will enhance the experience when downloading, streaming videos, gaming and so on. Globally, mobile data traffic in Q1, 2014 exceeded the total mobile data traffic of 2011, according to Ericsson's latest Mobility Report. The same report anticipates a compound annual growth rate of around 45 per cent between 2013-2019, leading to a 10 times increase by the end of 2019. Within 2014, du has introduced Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, an innovative addition that allows customers to browse the internet while making crystal-clear voice calls. Du is the first in the region to install and test VoLTE on a live network, and has the world's fastest deployment at just 80 days. Additionally, working with international vendors and technology powerhouses, du held a successful field test for LTE-A Carrier Aggregation between the 800MHz and 1800MHz bands; this technology allows for greater speed and reliability for mobile subscribers. The company also plans to deploy IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) on its network later in 2014, further enhancing customers' experience when using du's network. •[email protected] (c) 2014 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |