TIM, which was the first operator in Italy to introduce LTE-Advanced Pro (4.5G) technology, recently conducted further field tests in Turin in partnership with Ericsson. The Operator claims that it managed to achieve download speeds of more than 500 Mbps on a single data connection on the LTE live network.
The Operator has already launched the 4.5G network in eight cities - Rome, Milan, Genoa, Turin, Naples, Prato, Verona and Palermo - with a maximum speed of 300 Mbps.
In addition, TIM used Ericsson's Radio System and network advanced services, and leveraged Qualcomm's Snapdragon LTE X16 modem.
Over the next few months, TIM said it will continue to extend such evolutions in the 4G LTE network of the major Italian cities to offer 4.5G service to its customers when the first compatible commercial devices arrive, which is expected to be by the end of this year.
Giovanni Ferigo, Head of Technology, TIM
The milestone of 4.5G, which anticipates and paves the way for 5G, allows us to offer the best performances and to increase network capacity to meet the growing demand for mobile ultrabroadband linked to the explosion in video content, including HD and 4K, and of social networking and in general the new digital services that transform our lives on a daily basis.
