Alfa, the first Lebanese mobile operator managed by Orascom Telecom, and Nokia have launched the country's first 4G LTE-Advanced(LTE-A) network.
The new LTE-A network will enable Alfa to offer its subscribers significantly higher download speeds of up to 262.5 Mbits/sec for accessing high-definition video and other data-intensive applications, said Nokia.
The 4G LTE-A network implementation is enabled by carrier aggregation technology, which combines two frequencies in order to significantly improve throughput and spectral efficiency. For Alfa, Nokia combined 20 MHz on the 1800 MHz frequency band with 15 MHz on the 800 MHz band.
With data subscribers exceeding 74% of Alfa's subscriber base, the deployment of Nokia's carrier aggregation technology will allow the operator to offer innovative and high-definition services.
The two companies earlier signed an MoU on 5G to explore possibilities for the Alfa network and pave the way for Alfa to install its first 5G site in Lebanon in 2018.
Marwan Hayek, Chairman and CEO, Alfa
With the unprecedented surge in data traffic over the Alfa network to 15,000 terabytes per year, the deployment of 4G LTE-A across Lebanon will not only advance the quality of our 4G network but will also help us quickly move toward next-generation technologies like 5G..
Roger Ghorayeb, Nokia's customer team head for growth west ME
We are excited about the foundation this builds for Nokia and Alfa, and the opportunities for future work with our partner as it evolves its network for 5G and IoT capabilities in smart Lebanese cities.