Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is conducting a 4G LTE field trial in the city of Acapulco to demonstrate the use and benefits of the access technology for ‘Red Compartida’, a new national wholesale ultra-broadband mobile network initiative in Mexico, that the Mexican government is leading in coordination with IFT (Mexican regulator).

The trial is using 700MHz APT spectrum and is designed to gain valuable insight for the planning of the Red Compartida Project. The initiative will give birth to a 4G LTE mobile broadband wholesale offering in what has been identified by the ITU as the Digital Dividend spectrum. Both existing services providers and licensed tenant operators, such as MVNOs, will be able to take advantage of the mobile broadband wholesale offering to deliver advanced mobile broadband services and applications to subscribers throughout Mexico.

To mark the trial, Jose Ignacio Peralta, Mexico’s Deputy Communications Minister, took part in an event at “La Mira”, a trial site in the Acapulco Bay, where he used a mobile device to establish a data session and download videos, at super fast speeds of over 120 Mbps.

Thomas Bertrand, General Manager, Alcatel-Lucent Mexico, said: “As a worldwide leader in 4G LTE ultra-broadband wireless access, as well as IP networking, Alcatel-Lucent is very proud to participate in this field trial for such a major national broadband infrastructure project here in Mexico, and one of the first PPP project of its kind in the world. Alcatel-Lucent has a long history in Mexico, characterized by its permanent support to any initiative aimed at developing better communications and Internet connectivity, today, as well as to deliver next generation services for the Mexican people.”

Additional information

• Trial is featuring Alcatel-Lucent’s LTE express solution for ultra-bandwidth connectivity and the latest Packet Microwave Radio solution as backhaul
• The use of the APT700 Mhz spectrum bands is the first in the Caribbean and Latin America and adds to the previously announced commercial deployment of the solution with Asia Pacific Telecom of Taiwan.
• Of the three sub-1 GHz band plans conforming the Digital Dividend worldwide, the APT700 plan is expected to show the highest growth in the coming years, allowing this new Wholesale Broadband Operator in Mexico to achieve a nationwide coverage fast and help existing MNO’s and new MVNO entrants to offer ubiquitous services to subscribers throughout the country.