ZTE Building CDMA Network in Madagascar

ZTE has announced that it is rolling out an all-IP mobile phone and data network for Madamobil, a new mobile operator in Madagascar. The network rollout is currently in its final stages with ZTE supplying the core equipment and the base stations for the first phase of the network construction. Madamobil, which will offer services under the "Life" brand, is the only mobile broadband network operation in Madagascar operating on CDMA 2000 1X/EVDO.

Madamobil expects to launch services by August 2009 in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, and to then expand into other cities in Madagascar.

"We are very impressed so far with ZTE's superior technology and level of client commitment. In the wider scheme of things, we view this as the beginning of a fruitful relationship with ZTE in our efforts to further develop our footprint in Africa, both in CDMA and GSM and future evolutions of both technologies," said Mr. Amit Jain, CEO of Life Telecom Holdings.

Madamobil is owned and operated by Life Telecom Holdings (a telecom investment and management firm based in the Netherlands) in partnership with TECOM Investments (a subsidiary of Dubai Holdings, one of the largest institutional investors in the Middle East).

Life Telecom Holdings plans to invest in the acquisition and roll out of 5 to 7 other mobile telephony licences in Africa over the next 2 to 3 years and expects that its capital spend over the next 5 years will be well in excess of US$500 million.

Posted to the site on 15th July 2009