3G Expansion in New Zealand

Telecom New Zealand and Lucent Technologies have announced an agreement to expand Telecom's CDMA2000 1xEV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) network, with completion due before Christmas. The Lucent-supplied "3G Mobile Broadband" network is currently available in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch as well as key vacation areas. As part of the new network expansion agreement, Lucent will upgrade Telecom's existing Lucent Flexent CDMA2000 base stations with hardware and software to provide EV-DO coverage in virtually every main city or town in the country.

Lucent Worldwide Services (LWS) will provide project management, network planning and design, installation, integration, testing and optimization services. Telecom and Lucent also are expanding an existing managed services agreement announced in June 2003 to include the management, maintenance and operation of the new EV-DO network by LWS.

"Our '3G Mobile Broadband' network has been very well-received by businesses and consumers alike, and working with Lucent we will be increasing the coverage of this network to deliver the fastest mobile data services in New Zealand to more subscribers," said Kevin Kenrick, general manager of mobile services with Telecom. "Business users enjoy being able to use all of the applications they have available in the office at any location, while consumers continue to adopt new services such as video messaging and other entertainment services."

The EV-DO network expansion agreement builds on the original EV-DO network agreement the two companies announced in June 2004."

Posted to the site on 15th June 2005