Finnish vendor Nokia and state-owned China Telecom have signed  an agreement to expand 4G technology deployment across 19 provinces in the mainland, permitting China Telecom to enhance its coverage and capacity "while paving the way toward the introduction of 5G technology."

According to Nokia, expanding the 4G LTE structure will not only allow China Telecom to meet the growing demand of subscribers with ubiquitous 4G coverage but also enhance access in urban and suburban regions.

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The 19 Chinese provinces included under the agreement are Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia.  

"This agreement with China Telecom builds on our long history of collaboration. Our deep-rooted knowledge of the Chinese market will enable China Telecom to meet the demands of an ever-growing and dynamic 4G subscriber base," Mike Wang, Head of Nokia Networks China and ASB joint management team, said.

The rollout will also include Nokia's Flexi MultiRadio 10 base stations and projects like project management, network design, and installation. It will also cover maintenance services of hardware and software. Nokia optimization experts will also utilize Nokia NetAct to ensure maximum performance for China Telecom's consumers.

The deal will also pave the way for China Telecom to launch Voice over LTE services next year, RCR Wireless News reported.

China Telecom had 207 million mobile consumers at the end of June, with 90 million subscribed in its 4G segment. It posted more than 31 million 4G subscribers during the first half of 2016. The Chinese network provider anticipates that 4G customers will comprise over 90 percent of mobile data traffic next year.

TagsNokia, china telecom, 4G expansion, 5G Technology, LTE structure, LTE technology