The operator has approximately 186 million mobile subscribers, and is looking to expand its LTE services across the country in a bid to meet increasing demands for high-speed services and additional capacity.
Having secured FDD-LTE licences from the Chinese government, China Telecom will extend its reach in both new and existing regions of China.
Alcatel-Lucent will roll-out its LTE mobile ultra-broadband access technology in 40 cities across 12 provinces, including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guanxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia and Liaoning.
“Demand for LTE is exploding in China, and with this roll-out, we will help China Telecom launch services quickly and enable it to maintain its competitive position, offering its customers the ultra-fast broadband speeds and performance they are demanding,” said Luis Martinez Amago, CEO at Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell (ASB).
The agreement follows an initial trial deployment contract awarded in December 2013.
