T-Mobile US has awarded a major contract to Ericsson to continue expanding its nationwide 4G LTE network, improve in-building, highway and rural performance, and expand the availability of high-quality VoLTE services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The contract, which is an expansion of T-Mobile’s 2012 network transformation project with Ericsson, includes RBS 6000 base station equipment, installation and integration of 700,1900 and 1700/2100 MHz LTE-Advanced radio sites and tuning services.
T-Mobile is the first U.S. wireless carrier to deploy enhanced Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (eSRVCC) technology, which enables a seamless handover of VoLTE calls in LTE to existing 2G or 3G networks. Ericsson has delivered its Session Border Gateway (SBG) and Ericsson Media Resource System (MRS) to support voice handovers using eSRVCC.
Ericsson has enabled Wi-Fi calling through its evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG)1 and interoperates with T-Mobile’s existing IP Multimedia System and Evolved Packet Core network infrastructure.Additionally, Ericsson’s Services organization will help T-Mobile achieve OPEX reduction through the decommissioning of MetroPCS sites and ecological repurposing or recycling of removed site material.
Neville Ray, CTO of T-Mobile US, says: “We are constantly working to enhance and grow our network for our customers. With the help of Ericsson LTE equipment and services, not only have we rolled out the fastest nationwide LTE network in the US in record time, we’re able to continue advancing voice and data performance at an unprecedented pace.”
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