Magyar Telekom to modernise mobile network

Hungary’s Magyar Telekom, controlled by Deutsche Telekom, has announced on Wednesday that it has embarked on a large scale modernisation of its mobile network with its long-standing partner, Ericsson. The company has not disclosed financial details of the project.

"As part of the network modernisation, Ericsson will replace the current 2G and 3G wireless base stations to unique, multi-standard RBS 6000 equipments developed for GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA Evolution and LTE technologies. Once the necessary frequencies are available, Magyar Telekom will also be ready in 2011 to offer LTE services to its customers through the new fourth generation LTE technology provided by Ericsson," Magyar Telekom said in a statement on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE).

The LTE (Long Term Evolution) network next generation (4G) mobile broadband service.

As the first stage of the modernisation, T-Mobile customers will be able to experience the benefits of the super fast broadband services in the summer when HSPA+, offering 21 Mbps speed, will be available in many parts of Budapest as well as in several rural locations, via 200 new HSPA+ station. HSPA+ will be available across the entire network by 2013.

The agreement will offer further cost saving potential, including a 50% saving in energy costs, MTel added.