Iran’s major mobile operator and Internet service provider MTN-Irancell is swapping subscribers’ WiMAX modems which are mostly used at homes for TD-LTE ones, which will translate into increased connectivity, higher speed and lower latency, and all for free.
According to the firm’s website, users have until May 21 to replace their modems before Irancell stops offering services to owners of WiMAX modems.
WiMAX which is short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a family of wireless communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards. In Iran, the services are mostly used at homes which are not served by landline ISPs.
TD-LTE is one of the different standards of 4G LTE technology. TD-LTE uses a single carrier frequency for both uplink and downlink, dividing the radio frame into sub-frames that can be allocated to either uplink or downlink as per the immediate user need. This dynamic approach is well suited to the changeable data profile of today’s users, who for the most part download more than they upload, but will occasionally upload data like photos or videos.
How to Exchange Modems
Customers can visit shop.irancell.ir to submit their National Identification Number along with their WiMAX ID and MAC address which can be found on the customer’s modem package and purchase agreement.
All WiMAX payments and Internet packages will be transferred to the user’s TD-LTE account.
Users can also call the number 600 from Irancell lines and 09366000000 from lines other than Irancell to have their modems replaced.
Replacement and delivery of the modems are free of charge and consumers only have to pay for the new Internet package.
The monthly Internet packages for the service cost from 140,000 rials to 1.8 million rials ($3-42) including limited and unlimited options.
Advanced Technology
Internet speed offered through TD-LTE modem’s ranges from 1Mbps to 80Mbps and can function as a viable solution for those living in areas with no port available for landline Internet services. This is while the speed of WiMAX services at their best is under 10MBps.
Irancell’s TD-LTE modems support the latest version of the Internet Protocol, the IPv6, and can connect to 16 devices simultaneously.
Furthermore, the company is set to introduce a new mobile modem to Iran’s market, the TF-160, which supports both mobile 4G and TD-LTE. The device is promoted as the perfect solution for those who seek higher speed but also travel a lot and need a device they can have with them at all times.
