STC and Nokia have conducted a test of MulteFire technology, which enables LTE on Wi-Fi in unlicensed spectrum bands such as 5GHz, showcasing up to 120 Mbps of total download and upload throughput.
The tests proved MulteFire co-existing harmoniously with Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi was turned on in the same frequency and placed very close to a MulteFire access point. It also showed up to 50% better range and up to 2x better coverage in comparison to Wi-Fi.
According to Nokia, the test – which used Nokia’s FlexiZone small cells together with MulteFire software – showed how MulteFire can co-exist with Wi-Fi to deliver the high performance, high speeds and security offered by LTE in a densely populated environment. MulteFire complements heterogeneous networks (HetNets), which use a mixture of macro and small cell radios, allowing operators to meet the increased connectivity demands of future smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Nasser Al-Nasser, Senior Vice President, Technology and Operations, STC
We are the first operator in the world to have successfully conducted the test of MulteFire technology with Nokia. This test underpins our commitment to explore and identify the latest technologies that can further boost the overall service experience for our subscribers even as demand continues to grow.
Waseem Al-Marzogi, Head of STC Group Business, Nokia
By collaborating with operators like STC, we can develop new ways of utilizing spectrum such as 5GHz to meet the network demands of today and tomorrow.
