Nokia to deploy first LTE-R network in Korea

Nokia has secured a contract to deploy the world’s first LTE-R (LTE-railway) LTE network in South Korea.

The vendor will deploy the network on a railway line between Wonju and Gangneung as part of a line extension to prepare for next year’s Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

The network will support both operational and maintenance services on a high-speed commercial railway line operating at speeds of up to 250 km/h, providing high-speed connectivity between trains, stations and other railway facilities.

Nokia said the project is intended to serve as a model for future deployments of LTE-R technology and help further define LTE-R standardization efforts.

“South Korea has been a world leader in the use of mobile broadband technology to make public services of all kinds safer, more efficient and reliable,” Nokia head of Korea Andrew Cope said.

“With a thirty-year history in the delivery of GSM-R mobile networking technology for railways, and as a pioneer in the development of LTE-R solutions, we are pleased to partner with KRNA to bring these cutting edge capabilities to the country as they prepare to host one of the world’s premier sporting events.”