APT700 paper tracks global LTE band

Ericsson today released the report “APT700 – A truly global LTE Band” which details the history, benefits and progress of the global adoption of the APT700 band. APT700 allows operators to capitalize on spectrum freed up from the transition from analogue to digital broadcast TV, which is gradually occurring across the entire globe.

The need for exceptional mobile broadband coverage and network performance has never been greater as users expect their services and apps to work virtually anywhere, on an ever increasing number of devices. The report shows that the characteristics of the APT700 band provide operators with a unique opportunity to address this need.

The report confirms that regional harmonization of this band is getting closer with many countries across both Asia Pacific and Latin America committed to the adoption of APT700 while others are in the process of releasing digital dividend spectrum. Ericsson supports these countries and others outside of Asia Pacific who are also moving to adopt this band in order to realize the vast economies of scale that will be created.

APT700 has the potential to serve a market of over 2.1 billion people, significantly larger than the US700 band.

Additionally, studies have indicated that a GDP increase of US$1 trillion by 2020 is attributable to digital dividend allocation across the Asia Pacific Region#.

Kursten Leins, General Manager Strategic Marketing and Government Affairs, Region South Asia and Oceania, Ericsson, says: ”Our research shows that that network performance is the primary driver of subscriber’s loyalty to a mobile operator, followed by value for money."

The ability of digital dividend spectrum to cost effectively enhances mobile coverage and improve user experience, makes it a valuable asset for operators to improve customers’ experience on their mobile networks. As countries across the globe continue to adopt this plan, the economy of scale for device manufacturers will increase dramatically, leading to greater choice and lower cost devices for customers.

”Leading operators are already today planning investment in APT700 infrastructure to improve rural and in-building coverage, thereby improving customer satisfaction and reducing churn. The regional harmonization of spectrum bands allow operators to deal with the increasing demand in mobile broadband and it provides additional capacity to generate revenue from the rapid uptake of mobile broadband for an ever increasing range of devices,” said Leins.

Starting in Asia, Ericsson led the development and championed widespread acceptance of the APT700 band, in order to create a global LTE ecosystem opportunity that will benefit consumers and operators.

Markets that have adopted or endorsed the APT700 plan include: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, South Korea, Tonga, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. In the Americas, Brazil, Costa-Rica, Columbia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela are onboard. Countries that are considering endorsing APT700 include Thailand, Vietnam, Uruguay Paraguay and Peru.

Figure 1: Global allocation status of UHF band (digital dividend) by market

# Boston Consulting Group, The Economic Benefits of Early harmonization of the Digital Dividend spectrum and the Cost of Fragmentation in Asia-Pacific, May 2012.

Link to report – http://www.ericsson.com/res/docs/2013/ericsson-apt700-creating-a-truly-global-band.pdf

NOTES TO EDITORS

Ericsson is a world-leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers’ networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscriptions.

We are more than 110,000 people working with customers in more than 180 countries. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2012 the company’s net sales were SEK 227.8 billion (USD 33.8 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.

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