Claro launches 4.5G in Dominican Republic

Telco Claro has launched the first 4.5G network in the Dominican Republic.

With download speeds of 390Mbps, the network is four times faster than the company's traditional 4G network. The technology also allows for better indoor reception.

Juan Pablo Romero (pictured), vice president of network engineering at Claro Dominican Republic, said that the 4.5G network covers 72% of the country's population. The company's 4G LTE network covers 90% of the population and its 3G network covers 99%.

Romero added that América Móvil's fiber optic network connects over 26 provinces and its fiber-to-the-home network reaches more than 10 cities.

According to the Claro executive, 4.5G technology will pave the way for the development and commercialization of smart solutions and products.

Omar Acosta, Claro's director of marketing and corporate communications, underscored that the 4.5G network is part of a three-year investment plan worth 31bn Dominican pesos (US$656mn), which seeks to modernize the telco's networks and provide a platform that supports integrated digital services.

Claro's parent company, América Móvil, announced in May that it will launch a 4.5G network in Mexico at the end of this year, which is expected to cover 40 cities in the first half of 2018.