Bulgarian wireless broadband operator Max (previously Max Telecom) has announced that it has launched five Long Term Evolution (LTE) plans for PC and tablet users, starting from 1 July, TeleGeography.com reported on July 2, 2014.

According to a press release, LTE subscription plans range from the introductory ‘Easy 10’ plan, marketed at BGN9.90 (USD6.92) and comprising 10GB of data at 75Mbps/25Mbps (down/uplink) and unlimited traffic at the reduced speeds of 256kbps/128kbps, to the premium ‘Start 30’ offer, which costs BGN29.90 and includes 30GB of data at maximum speeds and unlimited access at reduced speeds; users can also choose a standard twelve-month subscription, or sign up for one month at a time. Further, the operator has disclosed a number of LTE-compatible devices, which include a USB dongle for personal use with a PC, a mobile Wi-Fi router, which can support up to eight phones, tablets or computers simultaneously, and a Wi-Fi router for home and office use. Max’s CEO Peter Covell said: ‘We are confident that we will satisfy all expectations and will continue to offer high quality service from the [fourth] generation of high speed technology’.

As reported before, Max walked away from the country’s frequency auction in December 2011 with a 2×8MHz block in the 1800MHz spectrum band, and subsequently indicated that it would begin rolling out a pilot LTE mobile broadband network in the second half of 2012 with Nokia Solutions & Networks (NSN) contracted in July 2013 to build the LTE network, overlaying the telco’s existing WiMAX system. Towards the end of May 2014 Max deployed Bulgaria’s first commercial LTE network, covering Sofia, Ruse, Stara Zagora, Sliven and Bansko at launch.