Telkomsel trials FDD-LTE Massive MIMO

Indonesia’s Telkomsel has completed Indonesia’s first FDD-LTE massive multiple input multiple output (Massive MIMO) field trial in collaboration with ZTE.

The achieved a nearly four-fold increase in data throughput compared to existing 2×2 MIMO FDD-LTE networks to 468Mbps.

It was conducted at one of the largest and most densely populated cities in eastern Indonesia – Makassar. The trial used ZTE’s FD-LTE Massive MIMO solution n existing commercially available handsets and MiFi units in a simultaneous 4 handsets / MiFi configuration.

ZTE and Telkomsel have now agreed to continue with the next phase of FDD-LTE Massive MIMO field trials before a potential wider rollout to the Telkomsel LTE network.

“We are constantly improving our technology and readiness of our next-generation networks to cope with the growing global trend,” Telkomsel VP of technology and system Indra Mardiatna said.

“This is in line with our vision of digital transformation to always be at the forefront of implementing the latest mobile cellular technologies that will provide substantial benefits to the people of Indonesia in the future.”

ZTE is currently collaborating with over 20 major operators worldwide on Pre5G development, trials and deployments, and has been conducting Pre5G Massive MIMO pilot projects since 2015.