Alcatel-Lucent to Upgrade Vodacom’s 3G Network in South Africa

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Alcatel-Lucent to Upgrade Vodacom’s 3G Network in South Africa

4:01 am on October 16, 2008 | Category: Wireless Technology, Wireless, Cellular

Franco-American telecom equipment giant, Alcatel-Lucent, has won a €22 million contract to upgrade Vodacom’s 3G wireless network in South Africa.

Alcatel-Lucent will supply Vodacom with UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network technology, complete with a flexible wireless network management system, as well as a comprehensive suite of network installation, rollout, and integration services.

“Achieving an improved end-user experience with superior mobile voice and high-speed mobile broadband data services is our key objective in expanding our 3G network,” commented Vodacom’s Executive Director of Engineering and Technology, Andries Delport. “Continuing to provide our customers with the highest quality of innovative mobile services requires us to partner with a reliable partner such as Alcatel-Lucent, which has a proven track-record in technology innovation. This project will also provide us with the ability to leverage the investment we have in our existing network to meet the growing demand of our customers for advanced services.”

Vodacom is a 50-50 joint venture between South Africa’s incumbent telephone provieder, Telkom SA, and UK-based wireless giant, Vodafone.