Bolivian Operator Orders First WiMAX Deployment

Alcatel-Lucent has been awarded a contract by Bolivia's Entel to deploy the first commercial WiMAX Rev-e (802.16e-2005 standard) network in the country. The new network will accommodate stationary and nomadic applications, and will complement the carrier’s existing fixed-based broadband services. Entel plans to launch commercial service of the network by the end of this quarter.

Alcatel-Lucent will provide its end-to-end WiMAX solution, including base stations, wireless access controllers, software and application platforms. It also will provide design and planning for end-to-end network integration services, including radio network planning, installation and commissioning, project management and support services for Entel’s network.

Alcatel-Lucent has teamed up with ZyXEL to provide customer-premises equipment.

“In fast-growing economies such as Bolivia, our universal WiMAX solution is the ideal means of rapidly and cost-effectively increasing penetration of high-speed Internet access and basic telephony services via VoIP, because the carrier can avoid the costly and disruptive civil engineering work involved in deploying copper or optical fiber cable,” said Victor Agnellini President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Caribbean & Latin America activities. “This project underscores Alcatel-Lucent’s commitment to WiMAX as a key element of its universal broadband access strategy, and expands the company’s footprint in the region.”

Posted to the site on 2nd April 2008