TIM launches the “intelligent” 4G in Palermo

The Italian operator is the first one in Europe to deploy Huawei’s innovative CloudRAN technology, enabling better performances and increased LTE network capacity where needed

[Palermo, Italy, July 5, 2016] A more intelligent and innovative 4G network that allows for improved performances where requirements are more demanding and enabling to optimize spectrum resources according to specific needs. First in Europe, TIM has launched Huawei’s innovative CloudRAN technology today in Palermo, aiming at better performances for its customers. The trial anticipates future 5G network architectures and it proves the capabilities of an “intelligent” 4G in improving quality and efficiency of next generation mobile networks.

CloudRAN is a wireless access network concentrating signal elaboration in a centralized location, allowing to coordinate radio signals and extend LTE Advanced’ performances, such as Carrier Aggregation that today reaches download speed up to 300 Mbit/s, and to manage interferences.

Through this initiative - anticipating the adoption and exploitation of state-of-the-art technologies to deliver quality and efficiency - TIM confirms once again its leadership in innovation. The first CloudRAN network in Palermo entails significant benefits, including increased Carrier Aggregation coverage and higher speeds in download and upload.

The trial carried out in Palermo on live network radio base stations, i.e. those used daily by customers, represents a further important milestone in 4G evolution, proving TIM’s leadership in R&D in ultra-broadband network technology. TIM had already tried Huawei’s CloudRAN technology in its Turin TIMLab and the excellent results in terms of performance and capacity stimulated the “live” trial with TIM customers in Palermo, the first ones in Europe to benefit from the new technology.

CloudRAN architecture allows improved user experience of mobile broadband services, facilitates mobile network operations and paves the way to 5G evolution, the next generation of mobile networks and services.

“We are particularly satisfied of launching this trial in Palermo, demonstrating the value of CloudRAN architecture.” comments Gabriela Styf Sjoman, Head of TIM’s Engineering & TIMLab. "This innovative technology is part of TIM’s path towards becoming a Digital Telco, securing to its clients a high quality user experience on digital new network technologies – such as CloudRAN – to guarantee customer satisfaction and create value through network solution that are both technologically innovative and efficient.”

Yang Chaobin, CMO of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, said:

“Huawei is committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators through continuous innovation to meet the requirements for network development. The CloudRAN solution provides innovative network architecture to enhance network cloudification and agility. Huawei has historically enjoyed mutually beneficial cooperation with TIM in the fields of CloudRAN and 4.5G and is set to write new chapters in comprehensive digital transformation and MBB2020 network evolution.”

Through this initiative TIM aims at delivering an ever-faster and reliable network able to respond to the growing mobile UBB demand driven by increasing social network and multimedia content usage, offering high quality/high resolution video and image sharing in mobility, along with the transmission of videos in real time such as video surveillance or TV images as well as the immediate update of one’s cloud – all new digital services requiring increasing speeds both in upload and download.