Alcatel Wins Cambodian Contract

Alcatel has won a multi-million US dollar contract from Cambodia's GSM network operator, CamGSM, to expand the operator's network. The initial supply contract was signed in October 1996 and this extension is the 15th extension contract with CamGSM for the supply of GSM 900 network infrastructure. Under the terms of this new contract, won in open tender conditions, Alcatel will supply and install its Evolium global mobile solution featuring GSM Base Stations (BTS), Base Station Controllers, as well as an additional Evolium Mobile Switching Center (MSC) with a capacity of 100,000 subscribers and the necessary microwave transmission systems.

The contract also foresees the provision and installation of a complete Intelligent Network (IN) platform, which is built on Alcatel's industry-leading Open Services Platform (OSP). This will provide the operator with the capability of offering prepaid, roaming and call forwarding services, as well as SMS. The Alcatel IN solution will allow CamGSM to more than triple the number of its prepaid users from 300,000 to 1 million subscribers.

"We're pleased to continue working with our long-term partner Alcatel. They have proven their ability in meeting our needs with customized solutions. Alcatel provides us with the scalable mobile solutions that can be quickly deployed to meet subscriber growth," said David Spriggs, CEO of CamGSM. "Alcatel's solutions enable us to get a quick return on investment, to effectively optimize CAPEX and decrease OPEX."

Another major project is the supply of solutions to the Digital Transmission Trunk-line of Cambodia (DTTC) linking the Thai and Vietnamese borders via Phnom Penh. A 600-km long fully digital transmission backbone network, the DTTC is an integral component of the Greater Mekong region information superhighway linking Cambodia to China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

Established in 1996, CamGSM operates a GSM900 mobile network in Cambodia under the trade name of MobiTel. CamGSM is jointly owned by a Cambodian consortium, the Royal Group, and Millicom International. The company currently has about 250,000 subscribers."

Posted to the site on 25th April 2003