Telefónica O2 will start LTE trials in Slovakia during 2010 in cooperation with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). The tests will be conducted in the region of Banska Bystrica, where the operator has been assigned frequencies in the 2.6 GHz band. The company is also considering running LTE tests in other locations. Slovakia joins six original markets (Spain, the U.K., Germany, the Czech Republic, Argentina and Brazil) where Telefónica O2 has been testing LTE technology.
The testing will be performed in 2010 in the region of Banská Bystrica based on a permission issued by the SR Telecommunications Authority. The company is considering additional testing locations.

"With this initiative Telefónica O2 Slovakia joined the other Telefónica Group companies involved in the testing of fourth generation networks. We will inform our customers and general public about the testing results after they have been evaluated," stated John McGuigan, the CEO of Telefónica O2 Slovakia.

The LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology is known for its fast transfer of large amount of data with low round-trip times. It allows for better utilisation of the frequency spectrum. Thanks to that customers are able to use a large number of applications in their mobile devices, such as real time internet, online games, cable TV, and collaboration through social media or videoconferencing. To test the fourth generation LTE based network, Telefónica O2 Slovakia was assigned frequencies in the 2,6 GHz band in the region of Banská Bystrica. However the company is considering other locations, too.

Telefónica, a global telecommunication service provider, is leading the evolution of the existing 2G/3G networks towards LTE. Telefónica O2 and Nokia Siemens Networks made a live demonstration of the LTE based high-speed mobile connection at MWC 2010 in Barcelona. Nokia Siemens Network will also participate on installation and testing of this new technology in Slovakia.

Source: http://www.o2.com/media/press_releases/press_release_14652.asp