Alcatel-Lucent Wins Two Contracts in Uganda

Alcatel-Lucent has won two contracts in Uganda, one for a new GSM network and the other for a GSM expansion and deployment of 3G services. Uganda Telecom has contracted for the extension of its GSM/EDGE mobile network and for the deployment of the first third-generation UMTS/HSPA network in Uganda, one of the first such deployments in the East Africa region. Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will supply its radio networking solution including base stations, radio network and base station controllers (RNC/BSC), wireless network management system solutions and engineering tools. Alcatel-Lucent also will be responsible for network design and complete network deployment, including network integration and maintenance services.

Additionally Alcatel-Lucent will provide microwave systems to optimize the transmission of voice and data traffic from the base stations to the core network.

Alcatel-Lucent also signed a separate US$100 million GSM network contract with Hits Telecom Uganda, a new regional operator. The contract also calls for Alcatel-Lucent to provide a full suite of managed services. The turnkey network Alcatel-Lucent is deploying will enable Hits Telecom Uganda to introduce its services in Uganda in time for the Summit of the 53 Heads of States of the Commonwealth Countries, which will take place in November.

Under the agreement Alcatel-Lucent will supply a full end-to-end GSM network as well as transmission solutions with microwave systems to dynamically optimize the transmission of voice and data traffic from the base stations to the core network. Alcatel-Lucent will be responsible not only for complete network design and deployment, including OSS/BSS integration, but also will help Hits Telecom Uganda manage and maintain the network by providing a suite of managed services.

Posted to the site on 24th August 2007