How long does it take to unlock a 700MHz LTE cellsite for customer use ?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › How long does it take to unlock a 700MHz LTE cellsite for customer use ?

grant_k

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#180899 25-Sep-2015 11:09

According to info on this page, Vodafone is rolling out 2600MHz LTE in several places around the Far North this week or next week. Some of these sites are in rural areas; especially Kawakawa East and Kerikeri Inlet. Given the very short distance over which 2600MHz signals are usable, I would have thought 700MHz to be a more appropriate choice for these sites. A couple of questions:

How far can 2600MHz LTE typically be used under line-of-sight conditions?
Will these sites have 700MHz added at a later date, or is this the end of the road so far as LTE upgrades go?

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Biddle Corp

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#1394334 25-Sep-2015 12:12

2600MHz range under LoS conditions is going to depend on the antenna type. You can't really put a figure because under LoS conditions with appropriate antennas you'd be looking at very long distances.

It makes sense to have LTE on 700,1800 and 2600MHz because there is hardware that can bond all 3, or with existing hardware bond and combination of 700+1800 or 1800+2600. Vodafone are also planning to trial 3.5GHz LTE as well, and the amount of spectrum in that band opens up a lot of potential.

At the end of the day Spark wasted money buying the additional 700MHz spectrum which was a complete waste of money. They thought Vodafone wanted it so paid a premium for it - but Vodafone couldn't have really cared due to the amount of other spectrum they have.

johnr

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#1394336 25-Sep-2015 12:21

The sites will have 700 as well we would not just put 2600 on a rural site as coverage foot print would be quite small compared to 700

The reason for adding 2600 would be CA over 700 and 2600

And no it's not the end of the road for adding 4G to sites, Loads of work going on still deploying 4G

dylanp

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#1394353 25-Sep-2015 12:54

We have 4G Extended Vodafone mobile coverage (that's what we're calling our 4G on 700MHz now) on a number of sites in Northland already and I'm sure there'll be lots more.

It's amazing looking back how much 4G has been rolled out around the country.

grant_k

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#1394357 25-Sep-2015 12:58

Thanks Steve and JohnR; it looks like 2600 is not a lost cause for me as I had feared.

sbiddle: 2600MHz range under LoS conditions is going to depend on the antenna type. You can't really put a figure because under LoS conditions with appropriate antennas you'd be looking at very long distances.

My antenna setup is shown below with dual wideband Log Periodics capable of working anywhere in the 700 to 2600MHz range. Any idea of what the likely range would be @ 2600?

johnr

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#1394375 25-Sep-2015 13:27

Too many variables to give a range

grant_k

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#1402242 8-Oct-2015 10:29

Somewhere between Monday and Wednesday this week, our local cellsite (Kawakawa East) had 700MHz 4G equipment installed. However my router still cannot access the signal so I'm wondering how long it will take for the 4G equipment at the site to be 'Unlocked' for customer use?

Reference: https://community.vodafone.co.nz/t5/Network-status/PLANNED-MAINTENANCE-Mobile/m-p/172190#U172190

coffeebaron

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#1402414 8-Oct-2015 13:55

Usually within a few days if work all went to plan.

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johnr

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#1402457 8-Oct-2015 14:55

As above not too long really depends on a few things

kaihoka

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#1404881 13-Oct-2015 11:20

we were notified that our local site/ collingwood pohara / was being upgraded to 700mhz and to expect disruptions.
that was on the 18th of september
i noticed no disruptions and there seems to have been no change and we have not heard further.
maybe it did not happen

grant_k

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#1405068 13-Oct-2015 15:16

kaihoka: we were notified that our local site/ collingwood pohara / was being upgraded to 700mhz and to expect disruptions.
that was on the 18th of september
i noticed no disruptions and there seems to have been no change and we have not heard further.
maybe it did not happen

It's exactly the same with Kawakawa East. 3 different notifications now: