A1 Significantly Expands Coverage and Throughput of its UMTS Network in 900MHz Band
Alongside deploying its 4G network, A1 continues to improve its third-generation network by increasing the number of cells operating on the second carrier frequency, in the UMTS-900 range.
This is a truly unique technological solution for Belarus. A1 increased the number of cells in the 900MHz range by more than 1,000. The changes took place across all regions of Belarus, from big cities to smaller settlements.
The second carrier frequency allows to double the throughput of the A1 network within its coverage area. Adding new cells in the UMTS-900 range resulted in improved quality of voice calls and increased mobile Internet speed in more than 320 settlements, railway stations, border checkpoints, and other objects.
"Each of the mobile communication standards that we're currently using has its signature characteristics and advantages. Our goal as a mobile service provider is to build our strategy so as to maximize the payoff from all our resources and ensure high-quality connection and excellent customer service. Expanding the coverage of UMTS-900 carrier frequency is a major step in this direction, and its benefits will be appreciated by A1 customers across the country," says Vladimir Sachkov, Senior Director for Technology at A1.
900MHz frequency band ensures high-quality mobile connection in the countryside due to a larger coverage area and lesser signal attenuation. In big cities, the game changers include a higher throughput capacity and better ability to penetrate obstacles.
In the course of expanding the UMTS-900 coverage, A1 specialists deployed 1,057 cells operating within the 900MHz frequency band. The biggest numbers of cells were deployed in Minsk (381), Minsk Region (292), Grodno Region (151), Vitebsk Region (113), and Mogilev Region (94).
A1 continues to cement its leader status in terms of both mobile coverage and high quality of mobile service. The А1 mobile telecom network currently owns the biggest number of GSM and UMTS stations (more than 13,000) in Belarus and boasts the best values across the majority of integral parameters, as per the independent regulator "BelGIE". For more information, go to хваля.бел, a website for monitoring the quality of telecom services.