Alcatel Wins 3G Turnkey Contract

Austria's tele.ring has awarded a contract to Alcatel for the supply of a turnkey 3G/UMTS network. The deployment of the networks will begin in May. The first phase will cover mainly Vienna, Graz and Linz, that will mean 25% of Austria's population, until end of 2003.

Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will introduce a complete set of UMTS features and network configurations within the GSM/GPRS network of tele.ring thanks to its Evolium multi-standard base stations. Alcatel's Evolium 3G/UMTS solution features the UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) radio systems including UMTS base stations (Node B) and Radio Network Controllers (RNC), the packet core network systems and transmission equipment.

"We have for a long time partnered with Alcatel building high-quality networks that meet the demands of the outstanding growth of our GSM/GPRS subscribers", declared Hubertus Hofkirchner tele.ring's, Chief Executive Officer of tele.ring. "We chose Alcatel's 3G/UMTS solution because it offers flexible upgrades for existing infrastructure which enables tele.ring to offer seamless 2.5 G and 3G service depending on customer's needs".

"This contract with tele.ring is very important to Alcatel", added Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's Mobile Communications activities. "Austria is a fast-moving economic force in Europe. Tele.ring is addressing this market with excellent service offerings. We are delighted to extend our business relations with such a dynamic operator towards 3G infrastructure and services."

Posted to the site on 3rd April 2003