True selects Ericsson for LTE-A rollout
Thailand’s third largest operator True Move selected Ericsson to deploy an LTE-Advanced carrier aggregation network and expand its existing 3G network.

The three-year contract covers the operator’s networks on the 900, 1800 and 2100MHz bands in the country’s north, central west and south. Ericsson will deploy its multi-standard radio equipment using its Radio System and RBS 6000 base stations for macro and small cells.

China Unicom launches VoLTE trial in Henan
China Unicom launched a commercial voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) trial in Henan province.

The operator contracted ZTE to provide an end-to-end VoLTE platform that includes voice-over-Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), VoLTE HD video and audio, and Rich Communications Services (RCS).

The Henan VoLTE project is one of seven trial sites in China and marks the first time China Unicom has launched the technology.

RCom joins Ozone’s Wi-Fi network
India’s Reliance Communications (RCom) is the first mobile operator in India to join the small-cell-as-a-service Wi-Fi network launched by Ozone Networks and Ericsson.

RCom will have access to the carrier-grade Wi-Fi network, which increases its capacity and footprint and enables it to quickly launch services on the established network.

Suresh Rangachar, RCom’s president and chief commercial officer, said the partnership will enable it to meet the growing customer expectations in ultra-dense environments through data offload to a country-wide carrier-grade Wi-Fi network.

Through its small-cell-as-a-service offering, Ericsson designs, plans, builds and optimises small-cell networks, and then manages them on behalf of its customers.

Cisco earmarks $100M for India
Cisco Systems plans to invest more than $100 million in India to support the country’s plan to connect thousands of villages to the internet and create jobs.

The company said it will work with federal and provincial governments in India to launch incubation centres for entrepreneurs and training students. It will invest $40 million of the planned investment into funding early and mid-stage startups.