LTE MENA 2013 - 12-14 May 2013, JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai

Wolfgang Wemhoff is CTO of Nawras, Oman, part of the Qtel Group. He is speaking at the LTE MENA conference, taking place on the 13th-14th May 2013 at the JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. Ahead of the show we speak to him on where Nawras is with its LTE deployment and learn more about the technical challenges it is facing…

What major developments have there been with regards to the LTE industry in the MEA region this past year?

The MEA region tends to be an innovator and LTE technology is moving the region into the lead with this significant technology development. Looking at the market in Oman, there have been several major advances related to LTE this year. One is the availability of new spectrum to be used for LTE – 1800 for LTE-FDD and 2300 for LTE-TDD. At Nawras we have chosen LTE 1800-FDD because there are a greater variety of compatible devices available for our customers, including the iPhone5 and the iPad.

LTE is a mature technology with a very quick market adoption, which makes it stable and predictable technology-wise. New Single RAN technologies allow for a far more flexible use of the available frequencies, combined with advantages on the radio side, when compared to the former RAN technologies.

Pricing for LTE is a controversial subject. Are operators getting it right?

We are currently seeing a spectrum of pricing ranging from premium, to ‘business as usual’. LTE is a premium service and provides a new customer experience with a greater quality and depth. Customers will be able to see and feel the difference between 2G and 3G and between 3G and LTE.

Does it make sense to think of LTE as a fixed line replacement in certain cases?

LTE is a technology, not a way of life. Customers want to enjoy broadband on the move or at home – wherever they are. LTE will deliver this service.