Telefónica launched its first, pre-commercial LTE services in Madrid and Barcelona to large clients and institutions. The service is using 2.6 GHz spectrum and offers downlink speeds of 30 Mbps using USB modems. Telefónica is preparing for a wider LTE rollout in Spain supporting downlink rates up to 100 Mbps.
Telefónica is pricing the initial LTE service under its EUR 45 per month plan, which has a 10GB data cap.
Alcatel-Lucent is the infrastructure supplier. Huawei is supplying USB modems for the initial rollout.
Alcatel-Lucent confirmed that it is providing Telefónica with a complete, end-to-end 4G LTE solution – including LTE base stations (eNodeBs), all-IP wireless Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and subscriber data management capabilities based on our IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) portfolio. Alcatel-Lucent also will build, operate and maintain the network on Telefonica’s behalf. http://www.telefonica.es
- In July 2011, Telefónica Spain was the winning bidder on five blocks of frequencies (70 MHz total) in the spectrum auction conducted by Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade. This includes 2×10 MHz in the 800 MHz band, which the company plans to use for a nationwide LTE network. Additionally, Telefónica has secured 2×5 MHz in the 900 MHz band and 2×20 MHz in the 2.6 GHz band, enabling other broadband wireless services. Telefónica bid 668 million euros, payable in two installments, September 2011 (53%) and June 2012 (47%). The spectrum licenses extends to December 31, 2030.
