Gigabit network launched in China to offer unprecedented speeds

China Unicom with Ericsson have launched a Gigabit LTE network that allows subscribers to take advantage of the services available with high-speed mobile broadband data.

According to the companies, the Gigabit LTE network upgraded by Ericsson will not only provide China Unicom subscribers with the ultimate experience and enhance customer satisfaction, but it will also make full use of network resources and improve profitability.

"This remarkable achievement will fulfill our strategy to offer the most advanced services to individuals and enterprises on the China Unicom network," says General manager of the Hainan branch for China Unicom, Hao Liqian.

"Our launch ceremony today is important, innovative and fun, since we're using Virtual Reality on a high-speed train over a high-speed network to prove the worthiness of this launch.

The service was launched on August 23 and as part of the event, passengers on the Hainan Island high-speed train were able to watch the ceremony through LTE broadcast technology and the Gigabit wireless network.

Ericsson is the exclusive provider of the LTE broadcarst solution, which is China's first LTE broadcast commercial deployment.

Head of market area North East Asia for Ericsson, Chris Houghton says they're literally putting the network into the hands of the subscribers on day one.

"People will be able to immerse themselves in their video experience and not just understand, but feel, the difference with a Gigabit LTE network while they are moving at very fast speeds," says Houghton.

"It's the perfect combination of thrilling speeds – physically and virtually.

Already, Ericsson has supported China Unicom in setting up a 1Gbps network in Guangdong, Hainan, Shandong, and Beijing with peak speeds of up to 979Mbps. With that speed, it takes just 13 seconds to download a 1080P high-definition movie.

Ericsson asserts there are more on-going 1Gbps trials in Sichuan, Hubei, Shanxi, Jilin and Jiangsu province, with the popularity catching on as high-speed mobile broadband network will enable businesses and services using Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and other big data operations.