Kcell, a cellular communication operator in Kazakhstan and part of Kazakhtelecom, has announced that it plans to cooperate with Ericsson in the field of development of 5G-ready networks.
Ericsson will carry out the upgrade of the LTE network of Kcell based on its solutions under the Ericsson Radio System line, said Kazakhstan operator.
The roadmap for 2021-2024 provides for piloting joint projects based on 5G technologies, conducting test tests, and creating scenarios for the use of new technologies for industrial production, agriculture, and housing and communal services said a press release. In December 2021, it is planned to open a 5G pre-commercial zone in the city of Turkestan.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will continue to upgrade Kcell's LTE networks based on the latest solutions from the Ericsson Radio System product line. The implementation of the project in Nur-Sultan and Shymkent, as well as in the western and southern regions of Kazakhstan, will significantly increase the productivity and capacity of the networks. All Ericsson LTE equipment supports fast and scalable migration to 5G, it said.
“The current agreements are the most important stage on the way to the complete modernization of LTE networks and the construction of digital infrastructure in Kazakhstan. The supply of modern equipment from Ericsson will meet the growing needs of Kcell subscribers in data transmission speed and traffic consumption. At the same time, replacing the current network solutions with Ericsson equipment is in the plane of Kcell's priorities to improve the quality of communication. In particular, the implementation of this project will allow Kcell to reach a new level in terms of network performance and capacity, which will undoubtedly positively affect the customer experience of our subscribers. In addition, the strategic partnership with Ericsson will allow in the future to quickly deploy coverage in the 5G standard on the existing LTE network in a short time with moderate investments, ”said Yuri Kharlamov, CEO of Kcell.
“Thanks to joint innovative projects, as well as the constant introduction of new products and solutions, Kcell and Ericsson are leaders in the telecommunications industry. We continue to actively cooperate with Kcell as part of a strategic partnership, the goal of which is to successfully launch 5G technologies in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the next few years, much attention will be paid to upgrading Kcell's LTE networks, which will provide Kcell subscribers with the opportunity to be among the first to start using services based on 5G technologies, ”said Sebastian Tolstoy, President of Ericsson in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.
