Belgium's Telenet Transforms UniRan Radio Access Network with ZTE

ZTE Corporation has signed a major network modernisation deal with Telenet, the largest provider of cable broadband services in Belgium. Telenet acquired mobile operator BASE from KPN for €1.325 billion in 2015.

Signed today, ZTE has been selected by Telenet as the official vendor for its national UniRan radio access network in Belgium. ZTE will deliver a state-of-the-art modernized and enhanced UniRan technology.

The major investment by Telenet in upgrading its mobile network is part of the company’s strategy to not only have its own mobile network, but also manage its infrastructure, invest in it, and guarantee its clients a mobile service of superior quality.

Telenet is focused on establishing itself as a converged operator, replicating in the mobile market its position in the fixed market as the benchmark for superior network performance. Telenet has announced its intention to invest €300 million over and above investments already announced earlier, with €250 million earmarked for the transformation of its mobile network.

“Since the takeover of BASE, we’ve already explained on many occasions how high our mobile ambitions are. Today, we’re ready and the project is taking shape,” said John Porter, CEO Telenet. “Telenet is absolutely delighted to have found in ZTE a partner capable of helping us achieve our ambition: To develop a high-quality mobile network which will help the company to profile itself as a leading converged operator in Belgium and Europe, against the background of a telecommunications and entertainment market which is undergoing massive changes.”

The long-term partnership with ZTE is focused on the modernization of radio equipment across over the whole country. By replacing 2G base stations and optimising both indoor and outdoor 3G, 4G and 4G+ coverage, ZTE is enabling Telenet to increase network capacity ready to accommodate by 2018 all its mobile clients currently hosted on the Orange network. With the ZTE UniRan solution, Telenet will ensure Network readiness for the future introduction of new mobile technology

“ZTE is proud to have been selected as the official supplier of the Telenet radio infrastructure,” said Xianming Zhao, ZTE CEO. “Thanks to the ZTE technology, Telenet will be in a perfect position to provide high quality mobile services for its residential and business clients and for its new clients. This partnership represents a milestone for ZTE and allows us to reinforce our presence in the European telecommunications market. ZTE now becomes a key player in the standardisation and modernisation of the mobile infrastructure in Europe by offering integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value to Telenet and Liberty Group enabling increased connectivity and productivity.

Due to be completed by the spring of 2018, ENGIE Fabricom and PTM will work closely together with Telenet and ZTE on operational level (physical replacement of the radio stations, wiring) and administrative level (access to sites, licences, etc.) support respectively.