Huawei Technologies today announced that it has been appointed by Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to deploy a pre-commercial LTE network for the operator.

In fact the first phase of this project has already been completed and Huawei claims that it achieved peak downlink data rate speeds of 100 mbps per user. The complete project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010 covering Riyadh and Dammam as well.

As part of the deal, Huawei has also deployed its RTN900 series into STC’s LTE backhaul.

Dr. Zeyad Al-Otaibi, CTO of STC, commented on this partnership, saying: “We are pleased to collaborate with Huawei on this LTE project, which will allow STC to better understand this emerging technology and allow us to offer our customers next generation mobile broadband services in the future.”

Ying Weimin, President of LTE Product Line, Huawei, said, “Huawei projects data services will increase 500 to 1000 times in the next decade. With surging demand for data applications, the entire industry is facing the significant challenge of how to effectively deploy and operate a profitable mobile broadband network. What we have accomplished in building this LTE network, together with STC, demonstrates that it is indeed possible to develop and operate a mobile broadband network that delivers the quality and connection speeds necessary to satisfy user demand, while containing operational expenditures that drive profitability. This represents a significant step forward for the entire industry.”

Huawei claims to have deployed over 60 LTE commercial and trial networks worldwide.