Ericsson to Manage Angolan Network

Ericsson and Angola's Unitel have signed a contract for network performance consulting and continued expansion of Unitel's GSM/WCDMA network over the coming three years. The contract includes a comprehensive network performance partnership agreement, to strengthen Unitel's network quality. Under the agreement, Ericsson consultants will perform network improvement and optimization services for the core, radio and transmission networks.

For the continued expansion of Unitel's network, Ericsson will deliver services including network design, network deployment, systems integration and network support. Ericsson service professionals from Angola and Portugal will be involved in the project.

Amílcar Safeca, CEO of Unitel, says: "We have been working together with Ericsson since our launch. Ericsson has proven it has the competence, product portfolio and services capability needed to secure the highest quality communications for our customers".

Part of the network was however supplied by Alcatel-Lucent in a US$53 million contract signed in May 2006.

The Mobile World notes that Unitel ended last September with a shade under 4 million customers - giving them a market share of 63%. The country penetration rate stands at just under 50%.

Posted to the site on 13th February 2009