Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, announced today a successful trial of LTE (Long Term Evolution) with Optimus. The trial achieved downlink speeds of 150 Mbps per user, and uplink speed of 60 Mbps, demonstrating Huawei's LTE stability and capability to provide unparalleled mobile broadband experience to end-users. 

Optimus has embarked on an ambitious upgrade of its mobile network in order to better meet the challenges of mobile broadband, which is expected to grow sharply in the next few years. For that purpose, in early 2010, Optimus selected Huawei's cutting-edge SingleRAN solution to modernize its GSM network in Portugal, enabling a fast LTE rollout in the future. Under the contract, Huawei's mobile base stations will be installed in 33 regions. To date, Huawei has deployed more than 1,000 SingleRAN sites to Optimus.

Huawei's industry-leading SingleRAN solution and multi-mode base stations will enable Optimus to meet both immediate and future user requirements after the GSM network modernization. The new GSM/EDGE network provides a significant improvement in terms of performance and total cost of ownership, while providing a smooth migration to LTE. This technology leverages site resources and reduces costs of network deployment, upgrade, operation and maintenance. 

In addition, the solutions provided by Huawei have been designed for an efficient use of space and energy resources. The green design allows for power consumption savings ranging from 30% to 70% in comparison with previous equipment, which allows the operator to reduce both the carbon footprint and the energy expenditure. 

"Huawei's SingleRAN platform enabled Optimus to achieve a step beyond in terms of network performance, while reducing the total cost of ownership. Huawei team's commitment and competence were crucial for the success of the project, reinforcing the long term partnership between the two companies," said José Pinto Correia, Executive Board member and Chief Technology Officer of Optimus. "LTE first results are very promising and confirm the stability and high performance of Huawei's solution, guaranteeing readiness for LTE deployment." 

"We are pleased to reinforce our partnership with Optimus and to contribute to the modernization of communications across Portugal with our advanced technologies," said Ji Rengui, Managing Director of Huawei Portugal. 

In 2006, Huawei successfully delivered to Optimus one of Europe's first full-rate HSDPA networks. In 2009, Optimus and Huawei launched Optimus's HSPA+ services with 21 Mbps downlink data rate. In February 2010, Optimus and Huawei have announced the successful conclusion of Dual Carrier Technology tests, reaching download speeds of 42 Mbps. 

As a leading provider of end-to-end mobile broadband solutions, Huawei shares its patent and standards achievements in LTE with industry partners in an effort to build an open, cooperative, and harmonious LTE industry ecosystem. To date, Huawei has won 26 commercial LTE contracts and has partnered with leading operators in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East to deploy over 100 LTE/EPC trial networks around the world.

About Optimus 

Optimus is Sonaecom's single brand for the telecommunications sector, and the only integrated player in Portugal, revealing once again its capacity to continue to innovate and lead. 

With a latest generation converging network of its own, and with a unique customer management system, Optimus offers a complete portfolio of mobile and fixed solutions for approximately 4 million users, individuals and companies. 

Optimus directly serves one in three of the Portuguese population, making available for the residential market, individuals and enterprises, the most advanced solutions in voice, internet, television and e-services, including more than 140 television channels, more than 4.000 video-on-demand titles, home entertainment, new generation internet through UMTS, HSPA, fiber optics and soon, LTE. 

Optimus assures that, no matter customers are fixed or mobile, corporate or individual, they will be able to make the most of the new technologies, adapting them to their unique profile and experiences. 

More information at www.optimus.pt