Alcatel has been awarded a new contract by Shanghai Mobile, the Shanghai subsidiary of China Mobile, for a major expansion of its GSM/GPRS network. The contract was won through Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel's Chinese operation. Under this contract, Alcatel will provide Shanghai Mobile with Evolium solutions that will enable the operator to meet the enhanced requirements of GPRS data services. These include a Mobile Switching Center, Base Station Controllers, Transmission Controllers and Multi Base Station System (BSS) Fast Packet Servers.
When the project is completed in June, Shanghai Mobile's GSM network capacity will increase to approximately 10 million subscribers. It will also strengthen Alcatel Shanghai Bell's leading position in the mobile switching market in Shanghai.
Shanghai is the most developed city in China with a population of 17 million. It is one of the fastest-growing mobile phone markets in the world with more than nine million mobile phone users at the end of last year, compared to 170,000 in 1995.
Zheng Jie, General Manager of Shanghai Mobile, said, "We have established stable and strong co-operative relations with Alcatel Shanghai Bell to build high-quality networks that meet the demands of our fast-growing GSM subscribers. We rely on our privileged partnership with Alcatel to offer to our customers fast access to the Internet and high-speed data added value services."
"We are glad, that Shanghai Mobile underscores the relationship by choosing our Evolium solution to expand its network. This will protect their investment on the way to a future 3G network," said Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating officer of Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group. "The cooperation with Shanghai Mobile shows the strength of the Alcatel Shanghai Bell position in Chinese mobile market."
Posted to the site on 22nd April 2003
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/8726.php