A1 Increases Data Transfer Speed and Network Capacity

A1 has achieved a major milestone in increasing its network capacity by replacing basic equipment with multi-beam antennas in the UMTS 900MHz band and expanding base station controllers. The technological upgrade has made a better mobile service and mobile Internet available to thousands of people living in Gomel, Minsk, and Mogilev Regions, as well as in Gantsevichi, Luninets, and Pinsk Districts of Brest Region.

Multi-beam antennas are devices with several independent inputs and outputs, each with its own radiation pattern (beam). While basic equipment allows for no more than three coverage sectors, multi-beam antennas significantly increase this number. This results in increased network capacity, faster mobile Internet, and greater availability of A1 services. During the latest upgrade, the mobile provider installed around 30 multi-beam antennas in the 900MHz band, which allowed to increase network capacity by 2–3 times. The UMTS-900 technology increases base station coverage, which is of crucial importance in rural low-populated areas. On top of that, a 900MHz radio signal is better at penetrating through different kinds of obstacles and barriers, allowing for a higher-quality connection even in terrains with complex landscapes and forested areas.

The upgraded controllers installed at A1 base stations throughout Belarus allowed to boost the number of available radio channels, thus enhancing mobile network in Gomel Region, Minsk Region, Mogilev Region, and a large part of Brest Region.

The recent modernization shows a long-standing dedication that A1 has to improve mobile signal quality and data transfer speed throughout the country.