Regional Brazilian operator Algar Telecom has started testing LTE-A technology in Uberlandia, TeleSintese reports. The trial, which is being carried out in conjunction with Finnish vendor Nokia, seeks to aggregate spectrum in the 700MHz and 1800MHz bands for improved data transmission speeds. Standard LTE coverage is currently available in 24 cities across Minas Gerais state, the report notes.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, in September 2014 Algar paid BRL29.57 million (USD8.5 million) for 700MHz spectrum covering 87 municipalities in the states of Goias, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Sao Paulo. Subsequently, in June this year the telco boosted its 4G capabilities when it successfully refarmed a 5MHz block of its 10MHz tranche of 1800MHz 2G spectrum for LTE use.