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Rogers CTO on LTE: “We’ll be the first in Canada to deploy it”

By on February 16, 2011 at 2:49pm in Mobile News, Rogers Wireless News


Back in October Rogers announced a LTE (Long Term Evolution) technical trial at Ericsson’s Ottawa Research and Development facility. Today during the Rogers Q4 investor call president and CEO Nadir Mohamed said: “We’re committed to LTE. We’re committed to deploying it and it’s going to be a multi-year deployment” beginning in 2011.

In a conversation I had with Rogers CTO Bob Berner he stated the following about their LTE plans:

“We are committed to deploying an LTE network in Canada and will be once again be Canadian leaders… Our trial in Ottawa is in multiple frequency bands. High-band and low-bands. And we think that’s really important because different frequency bands have different performance characteristics in enabling the customer experience… it gives customers the optimal experience regardless of what circumstance they are in… We are actually committed to deploying this technology (LTE). This is our path going forward. People (other carriers) are talking about we are capable, we could… we are actually going to do it and we’ll be the first in Canada to deploy it… what we are really saying here is that we’re not sort of stopping at HSPA+… we are going directly to LTE as our go forward technology that takes us into the digital pathway.”

All the carriers are moving towards LTE (4G) and recently WIND Mobile stated their LTE testing is seeing “average download speeds of 50-60Mbps”. Last week we shot a video of the TELUS LTE trials that show download speeds reaching 73.9 Mbps. Rogers stated they are currently testing Internet sticks “on the street and in real live… in urban and suburban areas”. No word was given about the speeds they are receiving but stated more information will be available soon.

Related posts:

  1. TELUS to “deploy HSPA+ Dual Cell technology” in 2011 (and increase revenues 3.5% to 6.5%)
  2. Google Nexus One officially arrives in Canada
  3. Rogers relaunches the MY10 Canada Wide and Messaging Plan
  4. The “State of Android in Canada”

Discussion

20 comments for “Rogers CTO on LTE: “We’ll be the first in Canada to deploy it””

  1. Who cares about LTE? How about just providing the same coverage as your competitors? Everywhere I go in the mountains of Western Canada, Bell/Telus often have coverage while you do not. Ironically, no Rogers coverage in the Rogers Pass!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 40 Thumb down 5

    Posted by midtoad | February 16, 2011, 2:53 pm
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    • Coverage or there lack of was my main reason for leaving.I thout that was quit funny that Telus/Bell have coverage in Rogers pass but Rogers has sweet dick all.Rogers was first for alot but never finish there still working on HSPA although they started years before Telus/Bell.Telus/Bell had more HSPA coverage at day of launch.Shire they will have LTE in top ten city’s.Then Telus/Bell will come along and offer more when they go LTE.Rogers will be behind the again.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4

      Posted by Larry | February 16, 2011, 7:37 pm

  2. A decently priced unlimited plan to go along with the speed would be nice…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 3

    Posted by HighDefiniasian | February 16, 2011, 2:54 pm
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  3. Right… and they were the first to do data sharing plans (ok, maybe the first to advertise it). Right. I’ll believe it when I see it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 8

    Posted by Matt Graham | February 16, 2011, 2:57 pm
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  4. They better NOT charge us more to get LTE!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 31 Thumb down 0

    Posted by rudiox | February 16, 2011, 3:03 pm
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  5. When one in every four people in a country have your phone you SHOULD be looking for major upgrades. Instead of you know.. being Rogers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3

    Posted by Jordan | February 16, 2011, 3:06 pm
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  6. Offering hi-end handsets, with good coverage and LTE (not Telus 4G btw) is about the only way the big 3 can differentiate themselves from the mobi-winds of the world. I am nearing the end of a 3 yr contract with Fido in July, but am seriously considering early cancellation to get wind’s $35 ultd plan…but then again a true 4g dual/multi core handset is tempting…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 9

    Posted by baconeater | February 16, 2011, 3:18 pm
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  7. Roger’s needs to enhance there HSPA network before going on to bigger and better things…..IMO

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Wire-less-guru | February 16, 2011, 3:24 pm
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  8. Prepare to bend over once more if you want to enjoy Rogers’ LTE. Gotta love their over-inflated rates….
    I’ll take a pass on that, and wait for Wind or Mobi to come to Kitchener/Waterloo (if that ever happens this decade…)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2

    Posted by phuzzykiller | February 16, 2011, 4:31 pm
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  9. 4G and 50+ Mbps downloads are an absolute moot point when you don’t offer any decent/affordable data plan. 4G starts to show real value when you get into unlimited data plans. Before that it is just a marketing gimmick.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3

    Posted by steve | February 16, 2011, 4:33 pm
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    • Well with 4G I am sure the data caps will rise, I just hope they dont go Wind style and just kill your speed after 5 GB are used. I mean whats the point of unlimited when they stick you on dial up speed.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3

      Posted by Canadianman20 | February 16, 2011, 4:36 pm

    • they dont drop your speed to dial-up speeds I’ve used 13 GB this month, and on speedtest.net can still get 2.4 down and 1.0 up….during peak times

      you are only throttled if its necessary, and Wind’s network is nowhere near capacity

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2

      Posted by chall2k5 | February 16, 2011, 10:19 pm

    • Chall what do you mean the network is no where near capacity? Tony is constantly saying it is.. that is why the issues with call quality and dropped calls.. that is what he is saying.. so I think you have to revisit your statement

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

      Posted by RoccoStiffReddi | February 17, 2011, 3:58 pm

  10. Wind Mobile, where are youuuuuuuuuu????///

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 5

    Posted by lukeiphone | February 16, 2011, 4:37 pm
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  11. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 27

    Posted by Dude | February 16, 2011, 5:22 pm
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    • Um, no they haven’t. Europe’s had it for a couple of years, but the US has only started recently.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1

      Posted by jB | February 16, 2011, 5:57 pm

  12. The only thing irritating me about Rogers (since I’m in toronto, have 6gb data, and run retention), is that their freaking phones are a year behind everyone else… the vibrant was out a good 3 months before the captivate, and they didn’t even bother working out the GPS problems before the delayed release… The worst part however, is that their phones either have major internal or support(x10) problems, or they come out way too late. I’m sticking with my htc magic until they come out with something worthwhile, or I can afford the desire HD from telus :S

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

    Posted by JaJa | February 16, 2011, 8:57 pm
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  13. A lot of Rogers customers in the Maritimes would be happy with 2G as opposed to… nothing. Does 4G mean twice nothing?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Easterner | February 16, 2011, 10:14 pm
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  14. Know before you comment that this news is about LTE,and not 4G. There is huge difference between LTE and 4G, and 4G is not implemented yet.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

    Posted by A. Sheikh | February 17, 2011, 10:29 am
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  15. Why don’t you worry about making the rest of your network 3G as opposed to worrying if u can get LTE first!?? Rogers you are pathetic..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1

    Posted by seller | February 18, 2011, 4:00 pm
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