Vipnet has trialled LTE technology in Zagreb, using 800 MHz spectrum that has been freed up as part of the digital dividend. The Croatian operator, owned by mobilkom Austria, has confirmed plans to launch commercial LTE services in 2012. In the meantime, Vipnet has deployed Dual Carrier HSPA+ technology in four cities, Zagreb, Split, Osijek and Rijeka. In 2010, Vipnet invested US$68.51 million as part of its long-term strategy to provide quality coverage, services and products.

Today Vipnet introduced LTE technology that runs on 800 MHz in live network, and which will provide Vip customers in lower data coverage zones same quality of surfing and much higher data transmission speeds, equal to those in urban cities. With transformation of analog to digital TV broadcast, there have been feed frequencies that Vipnet is using for fourth generation speeds – first in Croatia. Thank to this technology Vipnet representatives have made a video connection with persons in car that was traveling on the edge of the city. Media representatives were able to have live transmission on the press conference in Zagreb city center, with no trouble at all, and they have seen from the first hand that this technology offers high speed data transfer, due to digital dividend. LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology supports speeds up to 150 Mbps in downlink, and 50 Mbps in uplink.

Besides that, famous young cellists Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić have marked the beginning of Dual Carrier technology in Zagreb with download of their own video with ‘Smooth Criminal’ cover. So from now Zagreb surfs at 42 Mbps, along with Split, Osijek and Rijeka.

- Mixture of bandwidth that LTE technology offers, and 800 MHz frequency gives us the best solution to cover whole Croatia with real wireless broadband, enabling Vip customers in the island and rural parts of the country to freely enjoy in all benefits of mobile internet. To prepare for fourth generation of mobile telephony we are continuing with active testing of technology that will be commercially available in Croatia in 2012. – emphasizedMladenPejković, Vipnet’s CEO.

For Vip wireless broadband customers LTE technology will bring multi time bigger speeds and data transfer quality, as possibilities for multimedia services and usage of demanding applications on mobile phones as well.

The time until commercial availability of LTE Vipnet will over-bridge with investments in the rest of the potential of technology based on 3G, so in Vip enters there is already available USB stick for only 9 kuna that supports speeds up to 42 Mbps. Also, visitors of Vipcenter in Gajeva street, Arena Center and City Center One during this weekend can try out incredible Vip speeds.

Last year Vipnet has invested 48,3 million euro in long term strategy in quality ensuring of services and network coverage, along with innovative products and services according to customers needs.

The quality of Vip network has been confirmed by independent measurements of German company P3 Communications, rewarding Vipnet with certificates in categories of voice communications, data transfer and fast internet surfing.