Seoul, Korea, March 3, 2009 – LRTC, the most influential broadcasting service provider in Lithuania, and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading provider of telecom systems and mobile phones, announced today the launch of Mobile WiMAX 4G Internet in Lithuania using 3.5GHz products which received the world’s first WiMAX Forum Certification.
At today’s press conference in Lithuania, LRTC announced that they will begin the first Mobile WiMAX 4G internet service in the country from March 3 and start to sell Mobile WiMAX terminals in several popular shopping and entertainment centers in the major cities. LRTC plans to expand its service area gradually to nationwide by 2010.
“Today we have introduced one of the most advanced and innovative telecommunication technologies Mobile WiMAX 4G Internet for the Lithuanian consumers. We are proud to announce that this service is brand new not only in the Lithuanian market but a progressive innovation globally. LRTC will seek to further closely follow dynamic development of the global telecommunications’ market and offer our costumers services corresponding to their needs and newest market trends” said Mr. Algirdas Vydmontas, General Director of LRTC.
LRTC will extend the home and office Internet experience to outdoor, even on the move without any restrictions at the beginning of service. Then various customer-centric services, including VoIP, video and location based service etc., will be added to the LRTC’s Mobile WiMAX service.
For this, Samsung has provided 3.5GHz Mobile WiMAX total solution, which includes U-RAS Flexible base stations and all the related system equipments, consumer devices as well as service from 4Q 2008.
Woonsub Kim, Executive Vice President and head of Telecom Systems Division in Samsung Electronics said, “Samsung is very excited to begin Lithuania’s first Mobile WiMAX service in partnership with LRTC” “We believe that Samsung’s field-proven Mobile WiMAX solutions will contribute to Lituania with leading wireless broadband service”.
More than 200 VIPs from politics, academia and industry celebrated launch of LRTC’s Mobile WiMAX service at the press conference and observed the presentation of the revolutionary wireless broadband service.
LRTC is the main terrestrial radio and TV network operator in Lithuania which has more than 50 years of experience in terrestrial broadcasting. It is the member of WiMAX Forum since 2004 and has obtained the license for Mobile WiMAX from Lithuanian Communications Regulatory Authority in 2007.
Samsung is the first Mobile WiMAX system provider to possess all three bands of certification from the WiMAX Forum®, including 2.3GHz (Wave1) and 2.5GHz (Wave 2) equipment certifications in 2008.
Especially, Samsung U-RAS Flexible base station received “WiMAX Forum Certified™ Seal of Approval” through passing all rigorous certification tests of WiMAX Forum in January 2009. This product was the first products to receive WiMAX Forum 3.5 GHz certification.
Moreover, Samsung’s Mobile WiMAX USB dongle will be used for Lithuania’s First Mobile WiMAX Service. USB dongle and Mobile WiMAX system ultimately support Interoperability, so end-users can experience high-quality wireless broadband services.
Samsung is the top Mobile WiMAX vendor which has achieved successful accomplishments around the globe in 2008. Mobile WiMAX service was the first commercialized in Korean market since June of 2006. Clearwire in US and Scartel in Russia launched Mobile WiMAX commercial service in 2008 and many operators in the world, including UQ Communications in Japan, are ready to provide commercial service in this year. WiMAX Forum forecasts more than 133 million subscribers will use Mobile WiMAX in 2012.