Nortel Picks Up CDMA Order

Western Wireless Corp, a provider of wireless communications services to rural America, has awarded Nortel Networks a contract estimated to be valued up to US$90 million to deploy wireless data network equipment to expand coverage across the Western region of the United States.

Nortel Networks will deploy CDMA2000 core and radio access networking equipment to position Western Wireless to increase network capacity, support its growing subscriber base and extend wireless coverage areas across the western United States. Nortel Networks will be the sole supplier of new CDMA equipment for certain of Western Wireless' markets in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, Arkansas, Nevada, California, and Texas.

As announced on May 1, 2003, Nortel Networks has also been selected as the sole supplier of Western Wireless' GSM and GPRS/EDGE roaming network. The GSM deployments will allow Western Wireless to provide roaming services to Cingular Wireless, T-Mobile USA, AT&T Wireless and other GSM operators. Additionally, Nortel Networks will provide installation and integration services for the CDMA and GSM infrastructure as well as Assisted Operation services for the GSM network.

Dual-band GSM core and radio access equipment provided by Nortel Networks will support both the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz radio spectrums to provide seamless voice and data services for subscribers across all of these operator networks.

This contract builds on a long-standing relationship between Nortel Networks and Western Wireless. The companies have deployed analog, TDMA IS-136 digital wireless and CDMA networks across the Western United States for more than 12 years. Nortel Networks and Western Wireless struck an industry first by successfully trialing rural fixed wireless access using CDMA2000 technology in Terry, Montana, in July 2001. Nortel Networks launched the first commercial CDMA2000 network for Western Wireless in Texas in March 2002.

Dual-band GSM and GPRS (EDGE-ready) infrastructure to be deployed include S8000 and S12000 Base Station Transceiver (BTS), and Mobile Switching Center (MSC) equipment. CDMA upgrades will include Base Station Transceiver (BTS), Base Station Controller (BSC) and associated IP switching equipment. Nortel Networks GSM and CDMA infrastructure is designed to easily support migration to next-generation technologies (GPRS/EDGE, CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO, 1xEV-DV) with simple card and software upgrades, which can minimize capital expenses and protect network investments."

Posted to the site on 1st August 2003