Telecommunications service provider A1 in Belarus has announced major network upgrades in December, just ahead of the holiday season. These upgrades include LTE 4G network enhancements, the deployment of RAN-sharing technologies, and the provision of mobile communications at the stations on the third line of the Minsk metro. Let’s now take a look at the developments announced by the Belarusian operator A1.
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A1 Belarus LTE Network Upgrades
On December 23, A1 Belarus announced that it had upgraded its LTE network in 33 municipalities across the country, ranging from regional and district centers to agrotowns and villages. The upgrades were mainly carried out in the Grodno and Mogilyov regions to improve 4G network coverage. Additional improvements were also made in the Brest, Minsk, and Vitebsk regions.
A1 stated that it has the largest number of its own GSM and UMTS sites in Belarus, with over 13,000 sites. In partnership with the infrastructure operator beCloud, A1 has combined more than 6,000 base stations in the LTE/4G standard across the 800, 1,800, and 2,600 MHz bands, covering 99.8 percent of the population with 4G network coverage.
Also Read: A1 Belarus Enhances 3G Network Capacity With a 900 MHz Second Carrier
MTS, A1 Belarus RAN Sharing Agreement
MTS Belarus and A1 Belarus have started the third stage of their project to implement RAN sharing technology. The operators reported that this project has significantly improved the quality of mobile services, allowing for expanded coverage and capacity of their 3G networks without the need to deploy new base stations. Additionally, carbon emissions have been reduced by minimising the amount of equipment used and lowering energy consumption.
During this third stage, 180 new sectors of mobile base stations operating on the 900 MHz band will be launched by A1 Belarus, utilising the network infrastructure of MTS Belarus. According to an official statement on December 23, the introduction of RAN Sharing technology began in 2022 and continues to this day. The companies noted that the joint project will continue into 2025.
The telcos reported that, after three stages of implementation, the network quality has improved in more than 2,000 settlements across the country.
Also Read: A1 Belarus Hits 400,000 Fixed Internet Subscribers, Launches 4G in Minsk Subway
A1 Deploys Network at Minsk Metro
In another development, A1 Belarus announced on December 24 that it had completed the deployment of its mobile network at the new stations of the Minsk metro. Passengers at the "Aerodromnaya," "Nemorshansky Sad," and "Slutsky Gostinets" stations can now enjoy voice and data services, including VoLTE calls, while on the move.
"On the new section of the Minsk metro, as with other lines, the 1,800 MHz band has been implemented. A stable connection is ensured by a radiating cable – a feeder – laid along the walls of the tunnels. This cable is connected to base stations and replaces the usual cellular antennas, providing a stable signal for passengers' mobile devices," A1 said in a statement.
