Upgraded 4G coverage for Arctic Race
August 3 rd 2017 - 09:51
A total of 28 base stations has been upgraded with state-of-the-art 4G technology on this years Arctic Race route. For both the organizer, the press, the audience and the riders’ support teams, the mobile coverage is crucial for a smooth race. This upgrade comes in addition to all the upgrades that have already been completed.
– Telenor upgrades just about all base stations along the four stages and invests around 17 million NOK (approx EUR 2 million) on expanded 4G networks in and around this year's Arctic Race route. By comparison, upgrades were around 12 million NOK (EUR 1,5 million) last year, so this year's upgrade gives a significant boost for the entire region, from Narvik in the South to Tromsø and Finnvikdalen in the North, says Director Head of Coverage in Telenor, Bjørn Amundsen.
Large upgrade
In total, Telenor returns value for just over NOK 17 million NOK in the form of permanent 4G development and capacity measures. In May last year, ARN and Telenor signed a three-year agreement on a massive upgrade of the mobile network. Expanded 4G means, in particular, new opportunities for live TV from the race.
Artic Race starts at Engenes Thursday 10th of August and ends in Tromsø on Sunday 13th of August. Then the riders will have cycled a total of 685 km, spread over four different stages including places like Narvik, Sjøvegan, Sørreisa, Bardufoss, Lyngseidet, Nordkjosbotn and Tromsø along the route.
Sustainable value for the region
– The partnership with the Arctic Race is an important part of our nationwide reorganization from 2G to 4G. This implies lasting upgrades of mobile coverage that the locals will enjoy in all foreseeable future, Amundsen argues.
All upgrades are lasting except for Finnvikdalen, and will provide improved mobile coverage for the region in the form of a very well-developed 4G network.
Municipalities with upgraded 4G coverage: Balsfjord, Ibestad, Salangen, Narvik, Lavangen, Bardu, Storfjord, Dyrøy, Lyngen, Tromsø and Målselv.