14 DAY TRIAL // Alcatel-Lucent announced a contract with Globacom, Nigeria's second national operator, to supply and install a wireless network based on UMTS/HSPA technology in selected Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin and Ibadan. The UMTS/HSPA network, the first of its kind in West Africa, follows last summer's successful field trial of the 3G platform on the Globalcom network.
Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will provide a turnkey solution including UMTS/HSPA radio and core network based on its IMS ready NGN (Next-Generation Network) solution, along with network deployment, network and applications integration and services. The project will enable Globalcom to expand the capacity of its network so it can accommodate an additional million subscribers, while offering next generation services, including multimedia, mobile broadband and converged services such as video call, video streaming and high-speed Internet access on 3G handsets, phone-to-phone and fixed-to-mobile video telephony, video greeting kiosk and video mail box. Globalom will also introduce high-speed Internet and mobile data services to businesses and residential subscribers through USB modems and data cards.
"We are very proud to be the first to deploy a UMTS/HSPA network in West Africa that will enable us to bring compelling new user-centric broadband services to Nigeria for the first time, thanks to Alcatel-Lucent's unmatched product portfolio" said Dr. Adenuga, Globacom's Chairman. "Through our strategic cooperation with this trusted partner, we are constantly working to introduce innovative services and build the largest and best telecommunications network in the continent."
Globacom recently awarded Alcatel-Lucent a major nationwide fixed and mobile network development and IP transformation program that aims to expand its national mobile capacity from its current 12 million subscribers to 35 million by the end of 2007.