French Polynesia to Get HSPA Network
Tikiphone, French Polynesia’s sole mobile service provider, will soon launch the region’s first HSPA network after signing a contract with Alcatel-Lucent. In addition to deploying HSDPA, the project will increase network coverage and the capacity of the existing GSM/EDGE network.
API French Polynesia, the local partner for Alcatel-Lucent will deploy a suite of systems including the 9311 Macro Node B suite of products, media gateways and 9100 GSM Base station.
Together API and Alcatel-Lucent have supported the rollout of Tikiphone’s network since 1995, including installation and testing for a trial of HSDPA in 2007.
“This is a major success for API and Alcatel-Lucent in French Polynesia. We are proud to be the supplier of the first commercial HSDPA network of the Pacific Islands region and we would like to thank Tikiphone for its renewed trust and long-term partnership,” said Rémi Galasso, General Manager of API.
Figures from the Mobile World subscriber database shows that Tikiphone ended the first half of this year with an estimated 179,500 subscribers - representing a population penetration level of just over 63%.
A second operator, Mara Telecom has been granted a license and recently contracted with Nokia Siemens Networks to build a 3G network for commercial launch at the end of this year.
On the web: The Mobile World - Tikiphone
Posted to the site on 29th August 2008
