Italy's Wind Orders Point-to-Point Wireless Platform

NEC and Sumitomo Corp. have signed a framework contract with Italian mobile phone operator Wind for the supply of NEC's point-to-point wireless access systems, PASOLINK NEO. The company's say that one of the advantageous features of NEC's PASOLINK NEO, as compared with other wireless access systems, is its ability to handle different transmission speeds and interfaces with the same platform. This flexibility allows easier and more cost efficient expansion of networks when operators need to increase capacity.

"NEC's virtually fail-safe class of reliability is why carriers worldwide are choosing NEC as their supplier of choice for wireless access systems," said Mr. Raffaele Brevetti, President and CEO, NEC Italia S.r.l.. "NEC and Sumitomo have won this framework contract as a result of the positive reaction of current PASOLINK customers". "NEC has been chosen by Wind, based on the quality and resilience of the equipment, and we are looking forward for a successful implementation", said Mr. Philip Tohme, Chief Technology Officer, Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.a.

With the accelerating global expansion of mobile subscribers and mobile internet services, demand for microwave communication systems is expected to see substantial growth, as these systems enable quick installation of telecommunication infrastructure.

Italy has a prime mobile phone market, boasting a total of 80.3 million mobile customers, with market penetration of 136%. Wind is one of the leading fixed-line, mobile and internet operators in this market, with more than 15 million mobile customers and more than 18% market share.

Posted to the site on 17th January 2008