Seoul, Korea, September 29th 2008 - LRTC, Lithuania based mobile WiMAX service provider, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading provider of telecom systems and mobile phones, announced today the launch of mobile WiMAX in Lithuania.
LRTC is the main terrestrial radio and TV network operator in Lithuania which has more than 50 years of experience in terrestrial broadcasting. LRTC is the member of WiMAX Forum since 2004 and has obtained the license for mobile WiMAX from Lithuanian Communications Regulatory Authority last October.
At the press conference in Lithuania, LRTC announced that they select Samsung Electronics as an equipment vendor. According to LRTC, mobile WiMAX network deployment will begin in Vilnius from December of 2008 and is planning to expand nationwide until 2010.
LRTC will launch its first mobile WiMAX commercial service in Q1 2009 with customer-centric services such as internet access, VoIP, video and location based service.
For this, Samsung is providing mobile WiMAX total solution including 530 base stations, access service network gateways and all the related equipments as well as services.
Samsung will supply 3.5GHz equipments to Lithuania. Currently about 2/3 of all the WiMAX operators in the world are using or obtained the 3.5 GHz radio frequency. Most of the 3.5GHz is used in fixed WiMAX service, however, the researchers are forecasting that most of these fixed WiMAX services will be converted to mobile. Moreover, WiMAX Forum is preparing for the 3.5GHz product certification that will be out within this year.
Mr. Algirdas Vydmontas, General Director of LRTC said “I believe that Samsung Electronics is the most reliable mobile WiMAX partner that has outstanding technology and numerous experiences in commercial network deployment. LRTC will provide mobile broadband and VoIP service initially, and is considering adding LBS and other services gradually.”
“As a global leader in mobile WiMAX technologies, Samsung is excited to offer mobile WiMAX network to Lithuania in partnership with LRTC” said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecom Business. “We are confidently deploying Samsung’s mobile WiMAX expertise from the successful track records in US and Japan, to support the launch of mobile WiMAX service in Lithuania,” he added.
Samsung already has a successful experience in deploying mobile WiMAX technology around the globe. Mobile WiMAX service was first commercialized in the Korean market since June of 2006. Samsung is currently providing equipments and devices to Sprint-Nextel for nation-wide commercial service starting this September in US, UQ Communications starting its service from summer of 2009 in Japan, and Scartel LLC. starting its service at the end of this year in Russia.